The patent holder secured the deal through its subsidiary KY Data Systems, which Acacia purchased in January along with ten other companies with patent portfolios. The acquisition was estimated at around $25 million.
The patent portfolio licensed by Sony, which is among four portfolios Acacia owns involving interactive television systems, covers receivers such as set-top boxes and some interactive digital satellite and digital cable systems that are part of digital programming packages.
According to Acacia, data associated with interactive television features that is broadcast along with the video signal is extracted and processed by components within the receivers and is then made available to viewers who choose to access the interactive features through their remote controls.
Earlier this month, Acacia added several other cable companies to its Digital Media Transmission patent litigation, including Time Warner, Insight and Bresnan Communications, Cablevision Systems Corp. and Cebridge Connections.
Acacia claims that its DMT patents cover nearly all forms of digital media transmission, including downloaded and streamed content, a claim that is currently being contested by a group of 13 adult entertainment companies.
Acacia representatives were not available for comment at press time.