well, if the high courts take the Gemstar side, its potentially one way to force a replacement for the antiquated liberate middleware i suppose, after all its probably cheaper to replace that than pay licensing fees if they can find something else that isnt covered by the patents OC.
rebol/view tcp:ip scripting gui being a good case on point.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01..._virgin_media/
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Virgin Media trashes patent infringement accusations
TV Guide™ firm cries foul
By
Chris Williams →
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Published Thursday 24th January 2008 17:23 GMT
Virgin Media has slammed a High Court patent infringement lawsuit brought by the firm behind the massive US TV Guide franchise as an act of "flagrant opportunism".
TV Guide has gone all techie thanks to the rise of digital cable, and Gemstar-TV Guide International reckons it has now has "one of the world's most extensive patent portfolios directed to interactive programming guides".
It claims the UK cable monopoly owes it licensing payments because of features in its set-top boxes. The firm says it asked Virgin nicely to pay up, but failed to reach a settlement
...
A Virgin Media spokesman replied: "We're confident the courts will see Gemstar's action for what it is: a piece of flagrant opportunism. We have been advised by our external counsel that the case is without merit and we will defend it vigorously."
The patents in question are EP(UK)0969662, EP(UK)1377049, and EP(UK)1613066, relating to techniques for providing an interactive programming guide and handling recordings from it.
Gemstar-TV Guide insists other unnamed European operators have coughed up, so Virgin Media should too. ®"