nCUBE Files Patent Suit Against SeaChange

Call it the battle of the video on demand (VOD) servers. nCUBE announced on Monday it has filed a patent infringement suit against SeaChange, claiming that SeaChange violated its video on demand products.

nCUBE ( www.ncube.com) says its U.S. Patent Number (number 5,805,804, filed in November 1994) covers methods of providing multimedia over networks. nCUBE is seeking a permanent injunction to require SeaChange to cease shipment of all infringing products.

"It is clear that SeaChange's VOD products infringe the `804 Patent," said Michael Pohl, president, nCUBE Corporation. "We acquired the ability to protect our intellectual property rights, and in the best interest of our customers, we are moving to protect this claim."

SeaChange was unavailable for comment.

nCUBE says it owns the rights to 17 patents dating back to 1988, including many dealing with VOD systems, which are core features of nCUBE's n4 video server. nCUBE makes VOD market and system software. Customers include Enron/Blockbuster, Kingston, Bertlesmann, Gemstar-TVGuide, Liberate and others.

In September 2000, a Delaware jury issued a verdict in favor of SeaChange, in regards to another patent infringement. SeaChange (www.schange.com) also makes VOD products and has customers that include major broadcast networks and cable companies. It joined the Internet Streaming Media Alliance formed by Apple, Cisco, and other companies looking to promote the MPEG-4 standard.