[mythtv-users] Tivo suing everyone in sight over DVR patents

[Brian Wood]

On Friday 28 August 2009 11:42:55 jedi wrote:
> On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 08:22:05PM +1200, Steve Hodge wrote:
> > On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 7:08 PM, Simon Hobson 
<linux at thehobsons.co.uk>wrote:
> > > However, this is the dangerous part - there is nothing at all to stop
> > > TiVo suing the developers, nothing at all. The case could well be
> > > thrown out with prejudice at the first hearing, but that would still
> > > cost the defendants (probably a fair amount) to arrive at that hearing
> > > suitably prepared. Tivo would be very stupid to do so though, they
> > > would know that they would lose, and that would a) cost them, and b)
> > > put them at a disadvantage in future cases against others. That's
> > > probably the only restraining factor.
> >
> > The restraining factor is that the MythTV developers are unlikely to have
> > the sort of money that  Tivo are looking to make from these suits. They
> > were
>
>    I don't see the risk as Issac being sued directly. I see the risk as
> someone like Sage or Microsoft being sued and it goes all the way through
> the process and a miscarriage of justice occurs. Tivo manages to convince
> judge and jury that SageTV or MCE violate the patents.

I *really* hope that doesn't happen, because it would put me in the position 
of siding with Microsoft.

As any attorney can tell you, rule one of civil litigation is "Never ever ever 
sue poor people", making MS an acceptable target, but probably not Isaac.


-- 
Brian Wood
beww at beww.org