said by KenAF:There's no such thing as a patent on an idea. Patents are on the process / implementation (i.e. how to do it). In Tivo's case, the patents are on the hardware and software means to implement a DVR on low-cost hardware. Prior patents addressed other implementations where the cost of the hardware was not a concern; those patents were used to create $50,000 to $200,000 DVRs for military and industrial use. You can't build a $200 DVR with those patents using today's technology.
There's a good reason why virtually every manufacturer implemented the TiVo patent and not one of the few DVR patents that preceded it. Some obviously feel that TiVo patent is too broad, and that it is too difficult to work around. Of course, well-written patents are supposed to be difficult to work around, so that the inventor is compensated for their work for a period of 20 years. The patent system would be worthless if anyone could take a patent and then make an insignificant change to avoid infringement.
If you read the patents they are specifically for an idea.
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