ActiveVideo sues Verizon over interactive TV patents

Turnabout is fair play, it seems. Two months after Verizon accused Cablevision of stealing FiOS technology, Cablevision's top interactive television vendor ActiveVideo Networks says Verizon violated five of its patents and has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The lawsuit states that Verizon's FiOS system infringes on five patents for interactive TV technology owned by San Jose-based ActiveVideo Networks. The patents include one for a home interface controller to provide interactive cable television.

Of course, Verizon had a formula statement ready right away, with a spokesman for the company telling Light Reading, "This is without merit."

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