EPG developer/interactive TV programmer, Gemstar-TV Guide, has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Samsung Electronics which gives the latter the rights to incorporate Gemstar’s consumer electronics EPG and its VCR Plus+ technology into its integrated digital television sets, DVR’s and VCR’s. The agreement 1) renews a previous Gemstar-Samsung agreement which gives Samsung the rights to deploy VCR Plus+ worldwide, and 2) modifies an existing agreement between the companies which gives Samsung the rights to deploy Gemstar’s consumer electronics EPG in North America. Among other things, the new agreement extends the relationship between the companies in Europe, providing Samsung with the rights to deploy Gemstar’s consumer electronics EPG in products destined for that region; it also provides Samsung with a Gemstar patent license for Europe, which allows it to deploy certain non-Gemstar EPG’s in that region’s retail and service provider markets (i.e. without risking being sued by Gemstar, which is known for aggressive defense of its patents–a number of other CE companies, including Sony, Pioneer and Panasonic, have signed similar patent agreements with Gemstar for the European market), until the European version of Gemstar’s consumer electronics EPG is ready for commercial deployment. "In addition to giving Samsung the ability to enhance their customers’ viewing experience through the use of our technology, this multi-year agreement also broadens our existing relationship with Samsung, further expanding the reach of our brand, our technology and our intellectual property," Mike McKee, Gemstar’s president of EPG’s, said in a prepared statement.
Click http://www.itvt.com to subscribe to our free email newsletter, which contains all the news stories you see on this Web site, and additional breaking news and scoops, in-depth features, interviews, screenshots, videos, and other exclusive content you will not find anywhere else.
Filed under: Technology
