Macrovision in Multi-Year EPG Technology Patent License Agreement with Sony

Macrovision--the company which last year acquired the US's dominant EPG developer, Gemstar-TV Guide, and which recently announced that it would change its name to Rovi, as part of a complete revamp of its brand identity--said Monday that it has signed a multi-year deal with Sony that will allow the latter to continue to use its EPG technology and the related patents in its Gemstar patent portfolio in its consumer electronics products. Macrovision bills its EPG technology--which can be integrated directly into television sets, DVD players, Blu-ray recorders, DVR's and other consumer electronics devices--as providing comprehensive program listings, and as giving users the ability to manage personal profiles and view recommendations based on both editorial reviews and personal preferences. "It's an exciting time for the entertainment and consumer electronics industry," Simon Adams, Macrovision's SVP of marketing and sales, said in a prepared statement. "Technology advances are now coming to fruition in the living room and will change the way that people view their TV sets and other consumer electronic devices. We are pleased to be working with Sony to enhance the consumer's entertainment experience."