UPDATE:TiVo CEO:Must Stop Unauthorized Intellectual-Property Use
August 26 2009 - 6:55PM
Dow Jones News
TiVo Inc. (TIVO) needs to move quickly to stop the unauthorized
use of its intellectual property, according to Chief Executive Tom
Rogers.
TiVo earlier Wednesday said it has filed a patent lawsuit
against AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) for
their use of digital video recorders and television "time-warping"
technology.
Rogers told analysts during a conference call that TiVo had
attempted to strike deals with the telecommunications
providers.
The lawsuit is similar to the one TiVo filed against Dish
Network Corp. (DISH) and EchoStar Corp. (SATS). TiVo continues to
deal with an appeal from those companies in a Texas federal court.
Rogers said confidence is high on the prospects of the appeal,
allowing him to feel comfortable enough to launch another legal
attack.
While EchoStar and Dish trumpeted a minor victory in a similar
case in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office earlier Wednesday,
TiVo's Rogers said the company hasn't yet presented its information
and believes that it will ultimately prevail.
The Patent and Trademark Office case shouldn't affect the other
appeals hearing, he said.
As a result of the new lawsuits, TiVo Chief Financial Officer
Anna Brunelle said she expects higher legal costs.
Rogers touted the partnership with Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY), and
noted that the electronics retailer would put more marketing muscle
behind TiVo early next year.
He said TiVo remains in talks with another service provider,
Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC), and is open to striking a deal.
TiVo shares rose 1% to $10.60 in after-hours trading.
-By Roger Cheng, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2153;
roger.cheng@dowjones.com