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Microsoft Sues TiVo
doperative notes that "TiVo [is accused] of infringing four patents. Microsoft is asking that TiVo be barred from importing the digital-video recorders, which are primarily made in Mexico and sold in the U.S... The four patents in the ITC case relate to program schedules and selection, controlling the interface, and a way to restrict use of the DVR based on the program’s rating."
"Sue" isn't the best choice of words here. It was an ITC Complaint that Microsoft hopes will result in the banning of TiVo imports from Mexico that allegedly infringe on Microsoft's patents. The patents are 5,585,838, 5,731,844, 6,028,604, and 5,758,258. You can find confirmation from Microsoft's mouth here.
My work here is dung.
From the Redmond monopoly. Microsoft can't compete on the merits of their products so they use bully tactics. How typical.
Always getting sued by someone.
I wonder how Microsoft can claim the patent when Tivo was first with the DVR capability. Also: Why did microsoft wait almost 15 years to bring this complaint? Why the delay Borgified Bill.
Information wants to be expensive AND wants to be free. So you have Value vs. Cheap distribution fighting each other.
>restrict use of the DVR based on the program’s rating.
Isn't that what the rating was put there FOR? my god, how did they get a patent on that?!!?
Funny how three of the patents were granted just at the time the Tivo must have been in final development.
Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
It's simple to understand if you try. Nobody can complain of or sue Microsoft effectively. Microsoft can use the law to bust someone's balls for something. End of legal theory.
Build your own energy sources from scratch. http://otherpower.com/
Perhaps a Borgified Balmer?
Reading this post and TFA, the chronology seems to be that Tivo sued first. If this is the case, then Microsoft is doing exactly what they should be doing, bitch-smacking Tivo on behalf of its customer, AT&T. This is how companies expect their vendors to cover their asses. Pay attention Google.
We need a law to be able to sue large monopolies for damages when incurring undue wasted time, costs and labor as a direct result from from intentionally-designed features to lock users into their products. Software companies must make a "reasonable" effort to make data formats documented, understandable and compatible. "Reasonable", of course, is at least somewhat compatible with the size and resources of the company, the market, and the budgets for the products. It is understood that the company owns the software they create, and the client owns the data they create.
Build your own energy sources from scratch. http://otherpower.com/
As usual, for all my hatred of Microsoft, whenever I hear about their lawyers doing something I am usually on their side. Tivo was the one who initiated the use of force in trying to keep MS crap off the market. Microsoft is merely retaliating.
What sucks here is that it looks like AT&T customers are the ones who are really getting fucked, indirectly ending up as Microsoft customers, probably not being informed of that prior to spending money. That is lame and irresponsible, yet another reason to never do business with AT&T.
But saying the government should prohibit MS from having DVRs -- that's even worse. You go crying to the government, then you deserve to lose 100% of your equity. I hope Microsoft wins this one and Tivo ends up being the one who is legally prohibited from doing business anymore. And then I hope that the few Tivo stockholders who don't end up homeless, spend whatever dollars they have left, on lobbying to repeal bullshit patent laws so that this kind of destruction stops happening.
The old phrase, "pot calling the kettle black" comes to mind. What hasn't Microsoft infringed on?
Is it only me or is Microsoft being a lot more agressive in litigation by suing a lot more and sponsoring people who sue competition. Not sure if it is a strategy shift since Bill Gates left or they just decided to attack competition in a more open way. Before, they would just change the protocols (like samba) so it was not backward compatible
maybe I am seeing something when there isn't... who knows?
Never antropomorphize computers, they do not like that
Was that part of TCI Your Choice TV test on the mount prospect IL super head end back in 1993 / 1994?
These are not valid patents. They are just products Microsoft hopes to sell one day. So Microsoft is just abusing patent law to build the monopoly.
When will this charade be put to an end. And since when did Microsoft own the rights to the function of the 'V' chip?
Oh ya, when the patent was granted. Go figure.
As a fellow Mexican /. reader, I am interested in any reference to the assertion that TiVos are made in Mexico.
Does anyone has an article saying that?
Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
How was Microsoft awarded any or all of them from mid to late 90s when they were already being done through Satellite TV boxes in the early 80s, maybe even late 70s?
These patents seem to describe every TV guide type application since the dawn of on screen guides. This does apply to just Tivo but anyone who does any sort of on screen channel viewing with information about the channel. Technically they could sue ANY and ALL cable companies who make a DVR. This is just another example of how patents are too loose and when a lawsuit like this comes about with something that has been ignored for years and would hinder technological development it should just be burned and erased from existence. What is it going to hurt? It is not like this technology isn't used everywhere already. Patents are just created for money collecting down the road and serve no purpose but stopping creative development. I don't mind people getting credit for inventing something but if only one company can use a technology and there is no competition it won't drive the product to get better.
... is to give Apple some more reason to hesitate before entering the DVR market (by leveraging the AppleTV and possibly acquiring TiVo out-right). At this point, Apple's dominance in mobile computing and its ability to further extend its domination into Television programming puts a squeeze on Microsoft's ability to hold its ground.
If I were wrong, Microsoft is simply wasting their time (or just being plain mean) filing a lawsuit against a company that has a single niche product and little, if any, risk extending themselves into other markets (unlike Apple). At this point, I wouldn't put it past them to be blundering bullies but my gut tells me they are actually being sneaky this time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tivoization
ITC complaints don't work against products made in the USA. Outsourcing puts your business at risk of being shut down without even losing a real court case.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. TiVo's been suing companys for years, especially Dish Network. I hope they get sued real good.
As Microsoft's strategy of using patents against competition gains momentum, with attacks such as this against TiVo, it yet again highlights that Mono is a ticking time bomb that should be avoided.
Why a DVR isn't sold much here is a farce. I have an older sony HDD 250, a great OTA DVR which uses Rovi listings to work. This unit is obsolete by today's standards, but has an easy interface and program guide. Sony never made others here in the US, but has an extensive line elsewhere in the "noncompatible" world. Dish made a DVR for a while, but such an obivous technology is not easy to get. You can make a HTPC if you have some ability, but you can't buy a simple box at Best Buy. You can rent it from the Sat or Cable co, but you can't usually buy it. ridiculous.