Verizon Files Patent Complaints Against Cablevision
Telco Accuses Cablevision of Infringing Set-Top Patents in ITC Action
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 3/17/2010 6:35:07 AM
Verizon Communications filed a complaint Tuesday against Cablevision Systems with the U.S. International Trade Commission and sued the cable company in Delaware federal court, accusing the cable operator of infringing several patents with certain digital set-top boxes and demanding that Cablevision stop distributing the boxes.
In a statement, Cablevision said: "It is becoming increasingly clear that Verizon is having difficulty competing on the merits in the marketplace, so they are resorting to filing lawsuits and pursuing regulatory bailouts. We obviously plan a vigorous defense."
Verizon alleged Cablevision infringes eight of its patents in its lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The suit seeks an injunction blocking Cablevision from using the patents and unspecified monetary damages.
In its complaint filed with the ITC, docket no. 2717, Verizon cites five of the patents and identifies three Cablevision set-top boxes that allegedly infringe them: the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4250HD, the SA Explorer 8300HD and the SA Explorer 4200HD.
"Cablevision is using these STBs to compete against Verizon and is causing Verizon significant and ongoing harm," the telco said in its ITC complaint.
Verizon spokesman David Fish said the telco had offered to license the patents to Cablevision before it filed the complaints.
The eight Verizon patents in the Delaware suit are:
* U.S. Patent No. 5,666,293 ("Downloading operating system software through a broadcast channel");
* 5,635,979 ("Dynamically programmable digital entertainment terminal using downloaded software to control broadband data operations");
* 5,608,447 ("Full service network," covering a digital switching network that accommodates a range of broadband and narrowband digital technologies);
* 6,367,078 ("Electronic program-guide system with sideways-surfing capability");
* 7,561,214 ("Two-dimensional navigation of multiplexed channels in a digital video distribution system");
* 6,055,077 ("Multimedia distribution system using fiber optic lines");
* 5,864,415 ("Fiber optic network with wavelength-division-multiplexed transmission to customer premises"); and
* 6,381,748 ("Apparatus and methods for network access using a set-top box and television").
The five patents in the ITC complaint are the '293, '979, '748, '078 and '214 patents.
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