AUSTIN, TEX. — Broadband iTV, Inc., which considers itself a pioneer of video-on-demand technology, has filed a patent infringement action against a trio of cable television service providers.
The action, made Monday with the U.S. International Trade Commission, involves four BBiTV patents.
Named in the patent infringement action are Comcast, Charter Communications and Altice.
As BBiTV sees it, innovations in VOD specifically related to services using the set top box and mobile app technologies are at issue. The lawsuit addresses the cable companies’ alleged infringement of the patents based upon various aspects of their VOD platforms.
The action comes following the completion and dismissal in December of patent infringement suits BBiTV filed against AT&T, DirecTV and Dish Network.
BBiTV developed and owns a portfolio of more than 75 issued U.S. patents and 9 issued international patents. The patents are comprised of technologies developed by BBiTV inventor and chief technology officer Milton Diaz Perez based on his work over several decades. BBiTV developed the underlying technology from which all its patents were derived, and BBiTV has not acquired any of its patents from third parties.
BBiTV is represented by the law firm Kramer Day Alberti Lim Tonkovich & Belloli LLP.
“BBiTV is a pioneer in VOD technology and services as we know them,” said Rob Kramer, a partner in the Kramer Day firm. “These patents are the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and passion for innovation.”
Clifton Kagawa, BBiTV’s Chief Executive Officer, added, “BBiTV will vigorously defend its intellectual property being used by these cable television companies and require that they not import into the U.S. and sell set top boxes and related VOD equipment that deploys BBiTV’s valuable technologies.”
