News: Patent litigants target DVRs

[capone]

I'm sure this a) crap, and b) GB is not even on their grabby-hand radar, but it's news on the PVR/DVR market:
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Patent litigants target DVRs

By Michael Kanellos
http://news.com.com/Patent+litigants+tar...59298.html

Story last modified Fri Apr 08 04:00:00 PDT 2005

Forgent Networks, which has so far garnered more than $100 million dollars in fees on its so-called JPEG patent, is going after the digital video recorder industry.
The Austin, Texas-based maker of licensing and scheduling software owns four patents it claims give it the right to collect royalties on computers or similar devices, such as those made by market leader TiVo, that record, store and play back video- and audio-transmitted signals.

While three of the patents primarily involve videoconferencing systems, patent No. 6,674,960 specifically addresses recording television signals to a computer.

[more]

[jasonf]

Not sure if US Patents would apply in New Zealand.

[capone]

I think it may in some way, if the goods are sold internationally. I'd say may patent law is rusty, but it would have to exist in the first place in order to accumlate rust.

[daphatty]

It's crap like this that makes me despise our capitalist society.

[jorm]

Are patent law is truely pathetic. didnt smuckers even patent peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,S...m5,00.html