Rovi on Friday sued Hulu over claims the Internet streaming site copied its technology. The complaint alleges that Hulu’s interface for navigating shows copies multiple patents Rovi has for electronic program guides like those seen on a cable or satellite set-top box. The complaint wants tripled damages that would include back pay for the earlier violations.
None of the involved parties have commented on the lawsuit.
Although Rovi is best known for directly supplying its interface for TV hardware, it has made an increasing amount of its money from Internet-based video. The firm licenses technology to Apple and supplies the backend technology for CinemaNow’s use in Best Buy and Blockbuster. Hulu behaves similarly to these sites, despite its business model, and may have sparked the lawsuit for similar reasons.
