Cisco Launches Infringement Lawsuit Against TiVo Over DVR Patents

Los Angeles – Cisco Systems filed a lawsuit in federal court against digital video recording company TiVo last week. The basis of the lawsuit is infringement of the technology used for digital video recorders, or DVRs.

TiVo, famous for its devices that can record and play back television programs, has launched multiple lawsuits of its own over technology that it claims was copied from TiVo patents. Cisco Systems, a California based company, is seeking a court order stating that it has not infringed on TiVo’s patents. The court order is intended to stop the barrage of lawsuits against Cisco customers. Cisco conceded that it had considered licensing some of TiVo’s technology at one point. To that end, the two companies discussed a license for TiVo technology. However, TiVo indicated that that it would not license its technology because such a license would interfere with its ongoing patent lawsuits against Cisco customers. To protect itself against further litigation and to settle the existing lawsuits, Cisco is seeking confirmation in federal court that its technology is original, based on its own patents, and does not infringe on TiVo’s products.

Cisco Systems is located in San Jose, California and specializes primarily in computer networking equipment. Founded in 1984 by two Stanford University employees who had difficulties communicating by email, Cisco has since transformed how people connect, communicate and collaborate. With a product offering that spans from large business technology to individual consumer equipment, Cisco has captured a large market share of the computer networking market. Cisco products include networking services and equipment, video and business conferencing solutions, set-top video recording systems and numerous small business technologies.

TiVo was founded in 1997 with what it describes as the world’s first digital video recorder. With corporate headquarters in Alviso, California, TiVo is the established leader in set-top video recording equipment. TiVo has revolutionized the way consumers watch and access home entertainment, making the DVR the focal point of the digital living room. The resulting product is a center for sharing and experiencing television, movies, video downloads, music, photos, and more.