Englewood,
Colo. – Satellite TV provider
DISH Network (NASD: DISH) is prepared to remotely disable millions of its customers’ digital
video recorders, should a judge rule against the company in an ongoing patent
infringement dispute with TiVo (NASD: TIVO). "The only thing we can control is to shut
down boxes, so we have to, obviously, if we were to lose in the court
procedures," DISH CEO Charlie Ergen said on an earnings conference call,
according to the Associated Press.
"We’re prepared to do that. That
obviously will have a material negative effect on our business."
With as
many as 7.3 million DISH digital video recorders potentially affected, costs
associated with replacing them could run as high as $3 billion, Sanford
Bernstein analyst Craig Moffett told AP.
Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/w5htn
(AP)
http://dish.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=467998
