Netflix, Blockbuster settle patent dispute

Like so many other hyped patent lawsuits before it, the Netflix / Blockbuster suit ended today with the relatively quiet announcement that both parties have settled out of court for undisclosed terms. You might remember the two rental giants taking each other to court last year -- Netflix claimed that Blockbuster had violated its business method patent for online rental services, and Blockbuster claimed that Netflix hadn't properly disclosed prior art in its patent applications. As always with these settlements, neither party is conceding anything, so it looks like Netflix gets to hold onto those patents, and Blockbuster gets to keep letting people rent movies online. At least the lawyers got something out of it.

[adam @ Jun 27th 2007 7:17PM]

Frack the lawyers.

[andy @ Jun 27th 2007 8:08PM]

I agree. It's all their fault.

There's no way the CEO of Netflix said to the lawyers, "Sue Blockbuster because they are practicing our patented business method and destroying our profits."

I'm sure the rogue lawyers who were hired by Netflix and paid by the hour just went out and filed this suit without permission.

I guess the next suit will be the disbarment proceedings against Netflix's lawyers for acting without client consent.

Do you even know what a lawsuit is, or are you just a koolaid drinker who assumes they're something designed purely to benefit Microsoft and hurt the little guy like Netflix? This one doesn't fit your paradigm very well because Netflix, THE LITTLE GUY, sued Blockbuster, THE GIANT EVIL CORPORATION. Careful, your head might explode figuring that one out.

[Fadi Nassar @ Jun 27th 2007 7:27PM]

they'll soon merge or try to merge just like XM and Sirius are trying.
thir antitrust case would be that they compete with Itunes, Unbox and Xbox... for video

[Totalfixation @ Jun 27th 2007 8:11PM]

some of you guys are funny. companies such as netflix and blockbusters would hire there own in house lawyers. They wouldn't bother with a private or third party firm.

[Scott @ Jun 28th 2007 7:19AM]

Actually, they would use outside counsel for something like this. In house counsel typically manages; they don't litigate.

[Chris @ Jun 27th 2007 8:13PM]

Wow, feel andy? Good.

[Sketh @ Jun 30th 2007 6:52PM]

Yes, and Redbox is killing them both... at least for new releases.