Dish Network 2009 Annual Report Download - page 134

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DISH NETWORK CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
F-44
Global Communications
During April 2007, Global Communications, Inc. (“Global”) filed a patent infringement action against us and
EchoStar in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The suit alleges infringement of
United States Patent No. 6,947,702 (the ‘702 patent), which relates to satellite reception. In October 2007, the
United States Patent and Trademark Office granted our request for reexamination of the ‘702 patent and issued
an initial Office Action finding that all of the claims of the ‘702 patent were invalid. At the request of the
parties, the District Court stayed the litigation until the reexamination proceeding is concluded and/or other
Global patent applications issue.
During June 2009, Global filed a patent infringement action against us and EchoStar in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Florida. The suit alleges infringement of United States Patent No.
7,542,717 (the ‘717 patent), which relates to satellite reception. In December 2009, we and EchoStar settled
the Texas and Florida actions with Global on terms and conditions that did not have a material impact on our
results of operations.
Guardian Media
During 2008, Guardian Media Technologies LTD (“Guardian”) filed suit against us, EchoStar, EchoStar
Technologies L.L.C., DirecTV and several other defendants in the United States District Court for the Central
District of California alleging infringement of United States Patent Nos. 4,930,158 and 4,930,160. Both
patents are expired and relate to certain parental lock features. On September 9, 2009, Guardian voluntarily
dismissed the case against us with prejudice.
Katz Communications
During 2007, Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing, L.P. (“Katz”) filed a patent infringement action against us
in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The suit alleges infringement of 19
patents owned by Katz. The patents relate to interactive voice response, or IVR, technology.
We intend to vigorously defend this case. In the event that a court ultimately determines that we infringe any of
the asserted patents, we may be subject to substantial damages, which may include treble damages and/or an
injunction that could require us to materially modify certain user-friendly features that we currently offer to
consumers. We cannot predict with any degree of certainty the outcome of the suit or determine the extent of
any potential liability or damages.
Multimedia Patent Trust
On February 13, 2009, Multimedia Patent Trust (“MPT”) filed suit against us, EchoStar, DirecTV and several
other defendants in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California alleging infringement
of United States Patent Nos. 4,958,226, 5,227,878, 5,136,377, 5,500,678 and 5,563,593, which relate to video
encoding, decoding and compression technology. MPT is an entity that seeks to license an acquired patent
portfolio without itself practicing any of the claims recited therein. In December 2009, we and EchoStar
reached a settlement with MPT that did not have a material impact on our results of operations.
NorthPoint Technology
On July 2, 2009, NorthPoint Technology, Ltd. filed suit against us, EchoStar, and DirecTV in the United States
District Court for the Western District of Texas alleging infringement of United States Patent No. 6,208,636
(the ‘636 patent). The ‘636 patent relates to the use of multiple low-noise block converter feedhorns, or
LNBFs, which are antennas used for satellite reception.