Technology company Rovi has sued Comcast claiming 14 of its patents covering television set-top boxes have been infringed.
In a lawsuit filed at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on Friday, April 1, Rovi claimed the patents cover important features that Comcast provides to customers, including remote recording.
Rovi is seeking an injunction to prevent “continued infringement” as well as damages, it said.
Tom Carson, president of Rovi, said the company made “numerous attempts” to negotiate with Comcast but was left with no choice but to defend its intellectual property from unlicensed use.
“Rovi has taken this action to protect not only its patent portfolio, but also its stakeholders and licensees,” Carson said.
Rovi claims to have invested more than $1 billion in research and development for its products and IP over the last 25 years. It has a portfolio comprising more than 5,000 issued patents and pending applications worldwide.