ActiveVideo Networks, based in San Jose, Calif., has accused Verizon Communications of infringing five of its interactive television patents. A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia alleges that Verizon's FiOS system is using technology developed by ActiveVideo, Cablevision's top interactive TV vendor.
The patents listed in the suit include:
- United States Patent No. 6,034,678, titled "Cable Television System With Remote Interactive Processor;"
- United States Patent No. 5,550,578, titled "Interactive And Conventional Television Information System;"
- United States Patent No. 6,100,883, titled "Home Interface Controller for Providing Interactive Cable Television;"
- United States Patent No. 5,526,034, titled "Interactive Home Information System with Signal Assignment;" and
- United States Patent No. 6,205,582, titled "Interactive Cable Television System With Frame Server."
Accusations seem to be flying fast and furious in the interactive TV industry these days. In March, Verizon sued Cablevision, saying it had stolen technology used in its FiOS system.
For more:
- see the release
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