TORONTO – Nielsen Media Research, Taylor Nelson Sofres plc and BBM Canada announced today that they have settled their patent litigation, which was scheduled for trial next month.
The action dealt with allegations that the picture matching technology (or PMT) used by BBM Canada for its television ratings service and supplied by Taylor Nelson Sofres plc infringed Nielsen’s Canadian Patent 2,150,539. The Nielsen patent concerns a method of metering television usage by reading codes and creating signatures associated with television programming viewed in homes.
The action also dealt with allegations that statements made by Nielsen Media Research concerning PMT were false and misleading.
Under the settlement, BBM will continue to use PMT in Canada and has acquired a license to use Nielsen’s Patent to serve its members’ requirements. The patent license is limited to the patent rights and does not include any transfer of hardware or software. The issue of the statements made by Nielsen Media Research concerning PMT was also resolved.
All parties expressed satisfaction at having arrived at a fair result, enabling them to devote their resources to meeting client and member needs, reads the press release.
BBM Canada, Sondages BBM in Québec, is a non-profit, member-owned tripartite industry organization, which has been operating since 1944. It provides ratings information for both radio and television to broadcasters, advertisers, and their agencies, representing almost 1,000 member companies across Canada.
Nielsen Media Research is part of VNU, a global information and media company, with leading market positions and recognized brands in marketing information (ACNielsen), media measurement and information (Nielsen Media Research), business information (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Computing, Intermediair) and directory publishing (Golden Pages).
Taylor Nelson Sofres plc is one of the world’s leading marketing information groups. From offices located in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific, it provides continuous and custom research and analysis in over 110 countries.
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