Saying it was still necessary to litigate "from time to time," Acacia Research has filed patent infringement litigation against 19 cable companies in Arizona, Minnesota, and Ohio, regarding Acacia’s controversial streaming media patent group, Digital Media Transmission.
Named in the lawsuits, which Acacia announced September 13, were Armstrong Group, Arvig Communications Systems, Block Communications, Cable America Corporation, Cable One, Cable Systems Services, Cannon Valley Communications, East Cleveland Cable TV and Communications, Loretel Cablevision, Massillon Cable TV, Mid-Continent Media, Nelsonville TV Cable, NPG Cable, Precis Communications, San Carlos Cablevision, Savage Communications, Sjoberg's Cablevision, US Cable, and Wide Open West.
"Litigation is often a necessary part of the licensing business," said Acacia executive vice president Robert Berman. "Experience has shown us that litigation is required before some companies enter into serious licensing discussions. Although litigation is not our preferred course of action, we are prepared to see these cases through to trial if necessary."
Acacia – which has been challenged by several adult Internet companies over the validity of the DMT patent group – has signed 175 DMT licensing agreements since it began enforcing the patent group seriously almost two years ago. Spike Goldberg and Greg Clayman, the chiefs of New Destiny/Homegrown Video and VS Media who are leading that challenge, were unavailable for comment before this story went to press.
"Of our… agreements, 140 licenses were signed without the need for litigation and 35 were signed after litigation was initiated," said Acacia chief executive Paul Ryan. "Although we have recently licensed four cable TV companies and are making progress in licensing discussions with several other cable companies, it may be necessary to bring lawsuits from time to time to enforce our intellectual property."
In mid-August, Acacia announced licensing deals with two of nine cable and satellite companies it sued earlier this year, Seren Innovations and Boulder Ridge Cable. They had earlier signed deals a third, Central Valley Cable.
