Hulu's corporate owners hung a "For Sale" sign in the streaming company's window last month, but a new lawsuit could throw a wrench into that plan.
The litigious party in question is Rovi, which boasts specializations in "guidance technology, entertainment data, video production tools, video delivery platforms, content protection, content networking and advertising technologies, and media playback solutions." The corporation says its patented tech is licensed out to numerous services providers which cater to over 130 million people. Based on the lawsuit, Hulu is accused of offering Rovi's software (or "interactive TV functions" reported Bloomberg) to its viewers without permission.
Reuters quoted a Rovi representative who said Hulu's alleged infringement "presents significant and ongoing damages to Rovi's business."
But which patents were supposedly infringed? TechDirt dug up descriptions of the three listed in the claim: "Electronic television program guide schedule system and method;" "User controlled multi-device media-on-demand system;" and "Search engine for video and graphics with access authorization."
Rovi may be mounting a legal case, but otherwise it's business as usual for the patent holder. This week, the company announced its Smart TV Field Trial Advertising Program was now available for Canadian companies (it launched this April in the U.S.) eager to leverage various internet-ready devices for new marketing campaigns.
The case was filed on July 28th in Delaware.
