All that for nothing: Microsoft, TiVo dismiss patent lawsuits

From CNET News.com: Although it once seemed that Microsoft and TiVo could never come to terms, the companies have decided to walk away from all their lawsuits and pretend like they never happened.

TiVo today issued a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) saying that it has reached an agreement with Microsoft to dismiss all pending patent litigation against its operation. In addition, TiVo has agreed to drop its counterclaim against Microsoft.

In early 2010, Microsoft sued TiVo, claiming the DVR company was violating patents it holds related to video purchasing and delivery. The move was designed to defend AT&T, a Microsoft video partner, and a company TiVo sued in 2009 for allegedly using its "time-warping" technology.

Microsoft followed up that suit last year with a complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission, requesting the organization ban TiVos from sale in the U.S. Microsoft said at the time that it tried to negotiate a licensing deal with TiVo, but those attempts failed, prompting it to move to the ITC complaint.

Meanwhile, TiVo was on a lawsuit spree, taking aim at a host of companies, including Microsoft, over claims that the firms violated many of its patents. And while many companies fell in court to TiVo's pressure, it seemed that the legal wranglings with Microsoft were secondary. Today's announcement seems to corroborate that.

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