Dish Network and its streaming service Sling TV have recently aggressively started to target streaming services that it believes are infringing on its patents. Now you can add the BBC and ITV’s BritBox streaming service to the list of services it believes to be infringing on its streaming patents. According to the lawsuit filed in a New York court, BritBox, which is owned by the BBC and ITV, uses technology that infringes on eight of its patents, according to Reuters.
Britbox is not the only service being sued DISH has also sued Vidgo and Fubo. In the lawsuit filed last month, Dish’s technology arm, Dish Technologies LLC and Dish’s Sling TV LLC accused Vidgo and Fubo of knowingly infringing on its technology to stream content to users. The patents apply to multi-bitrate content streaming, which is a method of delivering video data across the internet based on different connection speeds.
Vidgo and Fubo join other companies that have been hit with similar lawsuits from Dish, including the interactive fitness app iFit. In the case of Fubo, Dish is attempting to strike a royalty deal in which the streaming service pays Dish for the use of its technology. Dish said last month that iFit’s stationary bike, elliptical trainers, and other devices with streaming capabilities violate its patents and is asking for them to be banned.
“Our counsel is reviewing the suit but we believe it has no merit and is frivolous,” said a Vidgo spokesman.
“Fubo takes these allegations very seriously,” said a Fubo spokeswoman. “We continue to review Dish’s claim.”
Dish acquired these patents when it purchased startup MOVE Networks and its patent portfolio for $45 million in 2010. After a series of corporate reshuffling, Dish Technologies (previously known as Echostar Technologies) became a division of Dish Network in 2018.
Cord Cutters News reached out to Dish and BritBox for comment but no representatives where available at the time of this posting.