Advanced Television

Virgin successful in Gemstar EPG ruling

November 27, 2009

Virgin Media has emerged successful in the patent dispute lodged against it by Gemstar TV Guide. The London High Court rulings call into question the ability for intellectual property rights holder Rovi to enforce its patents both in the UK and with operators around the world.

Gemstar, now part of Rovi, had claimed Virgin's EPG had breached three patents which were involved in the display and transfer of programme information and metadata.

The decisions were applauded by Virgin Media's general counsel Bryan Hall: “We took Gemstar's claim to court, confident that the claim was unfounded. The decision is resounding confirmation that our position was correct and that Gemstar's patents are invalid. Gemstar should not have brought this case.”

Categories: Articles, IPG, Middleware, Regulation