EchoStar fines raised

A federal judge in Texas has awarded TiVo approximately $190 million in damages in the continuing legal battle with DISH Network and EchoStar, according to Reuters. The conflict involves infringement of patents for technology used in the company's DVR set-top boxes. The judge previously ordered an injunction to prevent the accused companies from using the patented technology in their devices, although TiVo claims the products continue to replicate its Time Warp features.

The judge agreed with TiVo regarding the continued infringement, leading to a new order requiring EchoStar to disable the functions on most of its recorders currently possessed by subscribers. EchoStar allegedly created a "design-around" instead of obeying Judge David Folsom.

For the final order, Folsom decided that EchoStar should pay $73.9 million in damages and $15.7 million in interest for the infringement, along with $103.1 million in damages plus interest due to the violation of the injunction. The company must also report to the court if it plans to utilize another technology workaround.

Following the judgment, TiVo issued a statement expressing that it was "extremely gratified by the Court's well reasoned and thorough decision, in which it rejected EchoStar's attempted workaround claim regarding the TiVo patent, found EchoStar to be in contempt of court and ordered the permanent injunction fully enforced."

DISH and EchoStar plan to challenge the decision in a federal appeals court.

By Electronista Staff