If MSFT actualy goes through with this. You could see MSFT lapping up the final death trawles of Tivo and buy it. ...
Interesting you mentioned a buyout. My take is no one wants to buy TiVo, not until TiVo gets knocked down low enough. To prepare for that, most recently TiVo just filed their 8K which updated one of their provisions related to change of control of corporation, in this amended provision it offers all TiVo’s presidents and vice presidents golden parachutes for exiting after a buyout, specifically guarantees their pays, stock options and bonuses, as if they have achieved the stated performance goals, even if the company fails to meet those goals.
Sounded to me the heads of TiVo are preparing for a crash, and to give up the legal fights because usually after a buyout and change of control, the company strategies change. Any big guy that might buy TiVo, will not likely use its patents to sue everyone, rather to defend itself from being sued by patent trolls. Just like when DirecTV bought ReplayTV, you did not see DirecTV using the ReplayTV patents to sue anyone after that, because the big guys don’t have to sue, they can stand on their own. But they want to prevent patent trolls from suing them.
The TiVo heads will be well taken care of after the buyout, but who will be left to hold the bag?