Verizon files ITC complaint against Cablevision set-tops
updated 06:15 pm EDT, Wed March 17, 2010
Verizon files ITC complaint against Cablevision
Cable provider Verizon has filed a patent infringement complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) in hopes of stopping the sale of certain Cablevision digital set-top boxes, a report said on Wednesday [sub. required]. Verizon claimed violation of five of its patents related to its FiOS TV service, adding that it limited its complaint to a single claim per each disputed patent so that the issue is resolved within one year.
Cablevision denied the allegations and planned to mount a "vigorous defense," also accusing Verizon of resorting to filing lawsuits and pursuing regulatory bailouts instead of competing fairly.
The cable provider has been one of Verizon's fiercest competitors for sheer speed in Internet access. It launched a 101Mbps Internet service in 2009 that is more than twice as fast as Verizon's 50Mbps best with FiOS, and as an incumbent TV provider has had an advantage in its established areas.
