Digital-entertainment technology
vendor Rovi sued Hulu in federal district court, alleging
the Internet TV site infringes its interactive program
guide patents.
Rovi filed suit against Hulu in the U.S. District Court
for the District of Delaware last Thursday, seeking unspecifi
ed damages, Bloomberg reported.
The Internet TV site’s owners — NBCUniversal, News
Corp., Walt Disney Co. and Providence Equity Partners
— are currently in the process of trying to sell it.
Santa Clara, Calif.-based Rovi said it has more than
5,100 issued or pending patents worldwide.
In 2009, Rovi changed its name from Macrovision Solutions
after the company completed the acquisition of
Gemstar-TV Guide International in 2008 in a deal valued
at $2.8 billion.
Rovi has carried on Gemstar-TV Guide International’s
penchant for licensing and aggressively defending its IPG
patents. Earlier this year, Rovi suffered a rare legal defeat
when a British appeals court affirmed U.K. cable operator
Virgin Media did not infringe Rovi-owned IPG patents.
Hulu declined to comment.
