Netflix and TiVo, which merged with Rovi in September, said they’ve inked a string of deals tied to licensing, intellectual property and products.
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Among them is a product partnership in which TiVo will continue to integrate Netflix into its set-tops boxes distributed at retail and through a growing group of MVPDs.
A separate intellectual property agreement provides Netflix a license to the TiVo patent portfolios and a license to the Intellectual Ventures patent portfolio for over-the-top services. They said the agreement represents one of the first licenses granted under an exclusive partnership that Rovi and Intellectual Ventures announced earlier this year.
Prior to merging with TiVo, Rovi and Netflix had been battling in the courts over patent claims. Last year, a California court moved to invalidate five Rovi patents and entered a judgement in favor of Netflix in the case. At the time, Rovi said it intended to appeal.
“The partnership between Netflix and TiVo dates back to our early days of streaming video,” Bill Holmes, Netflix global head of business development, said in a statement. “Building on this history, the agreements provide consumers freedom to watch their favorite TV shows and movies whenever and wherever, with an integrated experience across more devices.”
“Our agreements with Netflix represent a major milestone for TiVo as we expand our offerings for the fast-growing OTT space, and further demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovative technologies to new and emerging markets,” added TiVo CEO Tom Carson. “From products to patented technologies, TiVo is helping companies quickly adapt to a rapidly changing media industry and create beautiful user experiences that keep consumers connected to their favorite entertainment.”
