OpenTV has settled its long running patent dispute against Liberate Technologies. In its claim originally filed in February 2002, OpenTV claimed that Liberate had infringed two patents held by OpenTV that related to interactive TV services. Under the settlement, Liberate has acknowledged OpenTV’s patent’s to be valid and admitted infringement. The United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order permanently restraining and enjoining Liberate from infringement of the OpenTV patents. Liberate has also dropped all of its counter claims against OpenTV.
Since the original claim was made both companies have changed hands. OpenTV is now a part of the Kudelski Group while Liberate has been split, selling its North American assets to TVWorks, LLC (formerly known as Double C Technologies), a joint venture between US cablenets Comcast Corporation and Cox Communications. Liberate’s European operations, primarily the contracts serving UK cable, were sold to Seachange.
Although not a part of the lawsuit TVWorks has agreed to pay OpenTV $1,500,000 to release it from the past liabilities acquired from Liberate. OpenTV says that no patent licence has been granted and it has preserved any rights it may have against TVWorks based on its activities.
