(Associated Press via NewsEdge) US satellite broadcaster DirecTV has purchased most of the assets of ReplayTV, an early pioneer of DVRs that was crushed into near oblivion years ago after a court battle with Hollywood.
DirecTV acquired the ReplayTV brand and other assets from Tokyo-based D&M Holdings, D&M said Thursday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
D&M is the parent company of Denon, Marantz and several other audio and home theater brands. ReplayTV, along with rival TiVo, debuted its DVR in 1999, introducing TV viewers to the technology of pausing live TV, zipping past commercials and recording programs without the hassles of videotape.
ReplayTV beat TiVo to the market by a few months, but TiVo ultimately prevailed, becoming the catchy brand synonymous with DVRs.
It's unclear what DirecTV's specific plans are with ReplayTV, though some might construe the purchase as pre-emptive protection against future patent disputes.
TiVo is in a high-stakes DVR patent fight against DirecTV's rival, EchoStar Communications, which operates the Dish Network. TiVo has already won a jury verdict in the case, which will force EchoStar to stop selling its DVR boxes. But that court ruling is on hold, pending the outcome of an appeal.
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