Rovi Corp. (Nasdaq: ROVI) and Hulu have apparently buried the hatchet, so to speak, by resolving their ongoing litigation and reaching a new licensing agreement.
None of the details are being released, Rovi spokeswoman Linda Quach told Bloomberg in a phone interview, declining to comment further on an e-mail statement released by the company. A Hulu representative also didn't immediately respond to a Bloomberg e-mail seeking comment on the settlement.
What can be gleaned is that Rovi sued Hulu in federal court in Wilmington, Del., claiming Hulu had infringed on patents it held covering interactive television functions. Rovi maintained in the suit that Hulu was using its protected technology for electronic programming guides (EPGs).
It has been something of an eventful week for Hulu as the company prepares to say goodbye to CEO Jason Kilar, who is leaving the company at the end of the month. Earlier this week, two of the three online video service's owners, Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) and News Corp. (Nasdaq: NWSA), met to determine how Hulu would proceed after Kilar left. Disney reportedly liked an advertising-based model, while News Corp. favored a subscription scheme. Comcast's (Nasdaq: CMCSA) NBCUniversal unit, the third owner, was not part of the parlay because Comcast is forbidden to get involved due to restrictions placed on the MSO when it acquired NBCUniversal.
For more:
- Bloomberg reported this story
Related articles:
Disney, News Corp. reportedly meet to discuss possible sale of Hulu
Rovi licenses TotalGuide IPG to 11 cable operators, renews deals with 32 MSOs