Gadget Bloggers

If you’re a Dish Network subscriber using one of their digital video recorders (DVRs), your machine may shortly turn into a useless box.

TiVo has been fighting a patent infringement case with Dish Network’s parent company EchoStar.  And a federal judge in Texas has just ordered Dish to stop selling and using several of its DVRs, and fork over interest and additional damages on top of an earlier jury award.

EchoStar is going to appeal, but if the order stands, these DVRs already in the hands of customers could be shut off within thirty days.

However, the most likely outcome is that EchoStar will negotiate some kind of licensing deal with TiVo, before those DVRs are shut off.  As with a similar patent case involving BlackBerry recently, service providers like Dish Network just can’t afford a blotch on their reputation, especially when competitors like DirecTV and cable are waiting in the wings.

[via Reuters]