July 26, 2004 Read today’s legal news + law announcements on LAWFUEL
OpenTV Corp. (NASDAQ-NMS: OPTV), one of the world’s leading interactive television companies, and The Walt Disney Company, a diversified, international family entertainment and media enterprise, along with Disney subsidiaries, ABC and ESPN, have settled patent litigation brought by OpenTV’s subsidiary, ACTV, against Disney, ABC and ESPN. The patents in suit relate to certain systems and methods for synchronizing Internet content with television programming, enabling television viewers to receive content pertaining to a broadcast program through the Internet.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP partners Kenneth W. Starr and Daniel F. Attridge along with associate Gregory F. Corbett represented ACTV in this matter.
As part of the settlement, OpenTV has granted Disney a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing license to use and to exploit the patents in suit. The Walt Disney Internet Group has also entered into negotiations for a non-exclusive, multi-year development agreement with OpenTV for the creation and marketing of enhanced television programming.
“We are very pleased that we have been able to resolve this litigation with Disney, ABC and ESPN in a mutually beneficial manner,” said Jim Chiddix, Chairman and CEO of OpenTV. “Disney’s agreement to license these patents and our late stage discussions with Walt Disney Internet Group to work with us to develop enhanced TV programming provides a solid foundation on which we can create exciting television for viewers across the United States.”
About Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,000-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex litigation, corporate and tax, workout, insolvency and bankruptcy, dispute resolution and arbitration, and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in Washington, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
About OpenTV
One of the world’s leading interactive television companies, OpenTV provides a comprehensive suite of technology, content, games, tools, applications, and professional services that enables cable and satellite network operators in over 90 countries to deliver and manage iTV services on all major digital TV platforms. OpenTV has its Corporate Offices in San Francisco, California and regional offices in the United States, Europe and Asia/Pacific. For more information, please visit www.opentv.com.
OpenTV and the OpenTV logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of OpenTV, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All OpenTV products and services may not be available in all geographic areas.
