In yet another incremental blow in the patent battle between TiVo and EchoStar, the satellite company's request for a retrial has been denied. In April, a U.S. District Court jury found that EchoStar's personal video recorders violated TiVo's patent for a system to record one program while watching another. EchoStar was ordered to stop selling PVRs, but that order was stayed while EchoStar appeals the decision.
Monday's announcement does not mean that the appeal has been rejected. Rather, EchoStar had asked for the verdict in the first trial to be thrown out, and for the case to be tried over again. But the judge ruled that EchoStar has failed to show evidence that the trial was flawed and should be represented.
1. So what does this mean for Tivo? What are the next steps? If the appeals are exhausted and Tivo wins, does this mean *all* generic/cable DVRs are a violation? Will Tivo go after someone like Time Warner next?
Posted at 1:49PM on Nov 28th 2006 by Dolf M