Rovi has filed suit against Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), alleging the cable company and it set-top suppliers have violated 14 of its patents.
According to Rovi, the patents relate to numerous features in Comcast's X1 video platform, including the way Comcast implements remote recording, the "AnyRoom" DVR and search.
"We disagree with Rovi's accusations and intend to defend the cases vigorously. Beyond that, we can't comment on pending litigation," Comcast said in a statement.
"Comcast's decision to continue using Rovi's pioneering technology as an unlicensed infringer is simply intolerable," said Tom Carson, president and CEO of Rovi. "After numerous attempts at negotiations, Rovi 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. While we are disappointed that Comcast remains unlicensed, we believe it needs a license to offer many of its personalized discovery features to its customers."
Rovi has more than 5,000 patents either issued or pending. As Variety noted, the company made 54 percent of its revenue in 2015 from the licensing of intellectual property.
Separately, Rovi announced a "stand-still" to litigation started earlier against Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH) and EchoStar, allowing more time for licensing negotiations.
Meanwhile, according to a Thursday SEC filing unearthed by Variety, Rovi has extended an agreement with Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) to provide patents for the MSO's interactive program guide.
For more:
- read this Rovi press release
- read this Variety story
Related articles:
TiVo reportedly in merger talks with Rovi
Rovi to end Fan TV relationship with TWC for set-tops
Rovi extends program guide deal with TWC; Liberty Global breaks of talks with Vodafone