Comments on: Does TiVo make Products or Patents? http://www.livedigitally.com/2010/03/09/does-tivo-make-products-or-patents/ My opinions about convergence, consumer technology, gadgets, Web, and more. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:51:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Davis Freeberg http://www.livedigitally.com/2010/03/09/does-tivo-make-products-or-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-474761 Davis Freeberg Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:22:01 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/?p=1964#comment-474761 I think that this issue needs a bit more context. If it was up to TiVo, I'm sure that they'd be available on every single cable, satellite and telephone platform, but the reality is that they compete in an industry that aggressively uses walled gardens to lock consumers into proprietary solutions. If it was up to companies like Time Warner, consumers wouldn't be able to watch Netflix on their DVRs. For TiVo's entire history, they've had to fight just for access to the TV signals while these same companies have gotten away with offering an inferior product because of their control over that access. Without the patents nothing would change, but with them they have a wedge that they can use to force themselves into these environments. As more companies respect that wedge, I think we'll see TiVo expand to more and more platforms and this question won't be as relevant as it is today. I think that this issue needs a bit more context. If it was up to TiVo, I’m sure that they’d be available on every single cable, satellite and telephone platform, but the reality is that they compete in an industry that aggressively uses walled gardens to lock consumers into proprietary solutions. If it was up to companies like Time Warner, consumers wouldn’t be able to watch Netflix on their DVRs. For TiVo’s entire history, they’ve had to fight just for access to the TV signals while these same companies have gotten away with offering an inferior product because of their control over that access. Without the patents nothing would change, but with them they have a wedge that they can use to force themselves into these environments. As more companies respect that wedge, I think we’ll see TiVo expand to more and more platforms and this question won’t be as relevant as it is today.

]]> By: Ben http://www.livedigitally.com/2010/03/09/does-tivo-make-products-or-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-474759 Ben Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:01:40 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/?p=1964#comment-474759 For starters I highly doubt anyone pays just $5 for a DVR from the cable co. Usually it is a number of fees tacked on top of each other that makes it difficult for a consumer to understand how much they pay (something like $5 DVR fee, $8 set-top fee, $3 remote and so on). Now I agree that TiVo needs to start innovating and that our patent system needs some work, but this is an example where the system is working. A company created something new, brought it to market and obtained a patent. Then other companies copied it without permission or compensation. If you don't think that is a valid use of the system, then I assume you don't believe in intellectual property rights of any kind. Now I think 20 years on a tech patent is too long, but you didn't specifically mention that gripe. You also make it sound like TiVo has a choice in the matter in regards to CableCARD. TiVo has been the consumer's biggest advocate against the cable companies when it comes to set-top choice. The problem is with the cable companies and the FCC's inability to enforce the Telecommunications Act of 1996, not TiVo's. For starters I highly doubt anyone pays just $5 for a DVR from the cable co. Usually it is a number of fees tacked on top of each other that makes it difficult for a consumer to understand how much they pay (something like $5 DVR fee, $8 set-top fee, $3 remote and so on).

Now I agree that TiVo needs to start innovating and that our patent system needs some work, but this is an example where the system is working. A company created something new, brought it to market and obtained a patent. Then other companies copied it without permission or compensation. If you don’t think that is a valid use of the system, then I assume you don’t believe in intellectual property rights of any kind. Now I think 20 years on a tech patent is too long, but you didn’t specifically mention that gripe.

You also make it sound like TiVo has a choice in the matter in regards to CableCARD. TiVo has been the consumer’s biggest advocate against the cable companies when it comes to set-top choice. The problem is with the cable companies and the FCC’s inability to enforce the Telecommunications Act of 1996, not TiVo’s.

]]> By: Zatz http://www.livedigitally.com/2010/03/09/does-tivo-make-products-or-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-474756 Zatz Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:49:07 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/?p=1964#comment-474756 They are slow and conservative. Maybe this new cash infusion changes the picture. Unless it's their new business model. And it may be given the follow-on patent suits against AT&T and Verizon. They are slow and conservative. Maybe this new cash infusion changes the picture. Unless it’s their new business model. And it may be given the follow-on patent suits against AT&T and Verizon.

]]>