US operator Comcast must stop importing and selling X1 set-top boxes after a patent ruling by the International Trade Commission.
The proceedings against Comcast were launched by Rovi, now Tivo, claiming that Comcast violated patents on technologies that let users schedule set-top PVR recordings remotely via mobile device.
Last June, an administrative law judge ruled that Comcast and Arris and Technicolor, the makers of the STBs, have infringed on two patents belonging to TiVo.
Rovi complained to the International Trade Commission in April 2016 that Comcast and its vendor partners were infringing on six patents related to digital video recording and interactive programme guides. ITC Judge David Shaw ruled that violations did indeed occur with two of the patents related to “interactive programme guide with remote access.”
Last year, Comcast replaced TiVo with Gracenote as the supplier of metadata services for its X1 platform. Insiders with knowledge of Comcast’s decision told US press that Rovi’s complaint with the ITC was a key influencer.
“We respectfully disagree with the ITC’s decision in this matter,” Comcast said in a statement.
“In fact, Rovi has never disputed that Comcast or its predecessors independently developed our X1 platform and our cloud- and app-based technology. While we believe the ITC reached the wrong decision, we will remove this feature from those offered to our subscribers while we pursue an appeal.”
