© 2010 Rapid TV News
Chris Forrester ©RapidTVNews | 28-06-2009
There's a fascinating story from Marshall, Texas, a small town of some 25,000 people, and where TiVo's case against Echostar/Dish was initially heard in its patent argument. The true story (says the Law.com website) happened in March 2006 just as TiVo's action against Echostar started. The same week there was the annual agricultural show in the town. TiVo bought a prize steer, as a humanitarian gesture, it says. But did the bull influence the following trial?
The main event in the show was the livestock auction, and TiVo's lawyers, well known in the area, bid $10,000 on the Grand Champion Steer, and promptly gifted the animal back to the youngster who had raised it, but not before renaming the bull ‘TiVo'. The story got widespread local publicity, especially given that the youngster could keep the cash for her college costs.
Two weeks later on April 13 the jury in the case, drawn from the good and wholly unbiased citizens of Marshall, found in favour of TiVo (the legal action, not the bull).
Echostar/Dish is appealing the verdicts.
© Rapid TV News 2009
