<div id="subtitle">Microsoft backs AT&T, sues TiVo over TV guide, program delivery technology</div><div><p>Microsoft Corp. is backing AT&T Inc. in a patent lawsuit filed by TiVo Inc. against the phone company. Microsoft's tactic: Filing a lawsuit of its own against TiVo.</p><p>TiVo, the maker of digital video recorders, won a series of court victories over Dish Network Corp. for violating a patent on a technology that lets viewers pause and rewind live TV. Last August TiVo took the same fight to AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., alleging that television services offered by those companies also violate this and two other TiVo patents.</p><p>Microsoft could be on the hook as well if AT&T loses its case. Microsoft's Mediaroom software is used in AT&T's set-top boxes that deliver TV under the brand U-verse.</p><p>So now Microsoft is trying to turn the tables. In a filing in a Northern California federal court on Tuesday, Microsoft accused TiVo of infringing on its patents on technologies that enable an on-screen TV guide and allow viewers to order and view shows on their televisions.</p><p>TiVo had no comment on the specifics of Microsoft's allegations but said the software company's lawsuit has no bearing on TiVo's suit against AT&T.</p><p>"We remain confident in our position that AT&T will be found to infringe on the TiVo patents asserted," the company said in a statement.</p><p>Microsoft spokesman Kevin Kutz said in a statement that the company is willing to settle the issue through a licensing agreement and has contacted TiVo for talks.</p><p>Tony Wible, an analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott, said TiVo stands to gain a windfall if it succeeds in collecting from every subscription-TV operator that infringes on its patent.</p><p>TiVo has been awarded more than $400 million in lawsuits against Dish, of which $305 million is under appeal. If it prevails in the AT&T case, any money awarded would be helpful to TiVo, a company that has struggled to make money as sales of its video recorders and subscription services have slowed.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67380634&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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