NDS Group has entered into a multiyear licensing agreement for Macrovision Solutions' electronic program guide patents.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under the agreement, NDS will be able to offer licensed EPGs to its pay-TV platform operator customers in specified countries.
"We believe operators will benefit from having the option to license Gemstar's EPG patents alongside NDS' own leading technology and service offerings," NDS chairman and CEO Abe Peled said in a statement. "We are therefore pleased to join Gemstar's patent-licensing program to enhance our market offering for our customers' benefit."
Macrovision has rights to or claims on more than 4,000 issued and pending patents worldwide. The company acquired Gemstar-TV Guide International last year in a deal worth $2.8 billion.
Macrovision has numerous licensees for the TV Guide patents, including Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Scientific Atlanta (now part of Cisco Systems), TiVo and Verizon.
