The Court of The Hague has ruled that Dutch cable operator Ziggo does not infringe Rovi patent EP 0775417.
The patent covers favourites in channel lists in set-top boxes. The disputed patent EP 0775417 is about “improved electronic television program schedule guide system and method.”
According to the judge, the patent does not meet requirements of innovation and is void under Dutch patent law and rejected all claims by Rovi.
Rovi was ordered to pay all the costs of the proceedings, estimated to be around €257,825.23.
The case was brought forward from July 10, 2013, when the judge adjourned the session in order for Rovi to improve documentation of its patent. The court, however, rejected the new argumentation and deemed the patent void under Dutch law.
NOTE – A copy of the original verdict can be viewed here. The text is available in Dutch only .