[11-30-07 – Satellite Today] The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Nov. 29 declared TiVo Inc.’s time warp patent valid, giving EchoStar Communications Corp. another bruise in its legal battle.
    The patent dispute is over technology that allows a digital video recorder to record one television show while watching another.
    In April, a Texas jury awarded Tivo more than $73 million in idts infringement suit against EchoStar. EchoStar has appealed that decision, and said in a statement that this development will not affect that appeal.
    “We are disappointed in the Patent and Trademark Office’s decision. We are hopeful that the Federal Circuit will reverse the district court and find that we do not infringe Tivo’s patent,” EchoStar said.