TiVo and Samsung agree patent licensing terms
Television set-top box maker TiVo and multinational company Samsung have signed an agreement in the hope of settling their patent disputes.
In an announcement made yesterday, November 3, the companies revealed that terms for an intellectual property licence lasting more than five years have been agreed.
The agreement will provide rights to TiVo’s patent portfolio for Samsung’s mobile, consumer electronic and set-top box businesses.
As part of the agreement, TiVo and Samsung will seek an immediate stay of all pending litigation and patent challenges between the two companies.
After certain conditions are satisfied in the fourth quarter of 2016, the parties will seek dismissal of the litigation and challenges.
In September last year, WIPR reported that the companies had gone to war, with TiVo alleging that Samsung had infringed four of its patents through technology used in digital video recorders.
TiVo has a history of asserting its patents against technology companies. In 2013, Cisco and Motorola agreed to pay $490 million combined to settle a dispute after they were sued by the company.
Tom Carson, CEO of TiVo, said “TiVo is pleased we were able to reach the terms of an agreement with Samsung, one of the world’s most valued brands”, adding that the company looks forward to continuing to work with Samsung to advance the “consumer entertainment experience”.
He added that he believed the agreement “demonstrates the ongoing relevance of our intellectual property well into the future, as well as in key markets such as mobile”.
