Rovi drops last-minute lawsuit on Hulu

Patents Very amusing timing to Rovi’s patent infringement suit filed against Hulu today in federal district court in Delaware. The litigation concerns the old Gemstar-TV Guide patents on electronic program guides, which have been the source of countless legal actions by Rovi in the past.

There are two ways to read today’s move. Either Rovi believes Hulu really will be sold, and it wants to get a hook in deep enough so that any deal to acquire the streaming service would likely need to include a provision to settle outstanding litigation. Or, Rovi believes Hulu will not be sold and it wants to get a hook in now while it’s is still a going concern and there’s still someone still there to collect from.

I guess it was now or never.