Macrovision Solutions Corporation has announced that UPC Broadband has entered into a multi-year agreement to license patents for interactive program guides (IPGs) in multiple European countries from Macrovision.
Additionally, Macrovision has signed an agreement with UPC to distribute certain IPG and interactive television technologies developed by UPC to other service providers.
The agreement covers the use of Macrovision’s intellectual property in its EPGs. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but are likely to include elements such as the familiar ‘bricks in the wall’ display of the programme guide. Earlier, a similar deal was reached with Sky Italia.
Not all operators seem to be willing to pay Macrovision. Over a year ago, Gemstar (now owned by Macrovision) filed a claim at the High Court in London alleging the breach of three of its European patents by Virgin Media. The action against Virgin Media (reported previously by Broadband TV News) will be heard in a few weeks.
