Dish Sues DAZN Over Adaptive Bitrate Streaming Patents

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing intellectual property battles in the streaming industry, particularly concerning core technologies like adaptive bitrate streaming. Dish, through EchoStar, has historically defended these patents, indicating a persistent strategy to monetize its IP portfolio. The outcome could set a precedent for how widely adopted streaming technologies are licensed, potentially affecting numerous platforms. Watch for any out-of-court settlements or court rulings that clarify the scope and enforceability of these adaptive bitrate patents.

Dish’s legal action against DAZN continues a pattern of aggressive patent enforcement related to adaptive bitrate streaming. The company has filed numerous lawsuits against streamers, including Fubo and Vidgo, alleging infringement of its adaptive bitrate patents (The Desk, October 2023). However, this strategy faces challenges. In an October 2025 development, The Desk reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) appeal board voided elements of one key adaptive bitrate patent (Patent Number 10496554-B2) central to Dish's lawsuits. The USPTO found that 14 specific claims within the patent were preempted by prior inventions from Robert Ogden (2000) and Geoff Allen (2002). Dish has appealed this decision to the Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit, arguing the USPTO misapplied the law of obviousness and improperly combined prior art descriptions. This ongoing appeal could significantly impact Dish's ability to enforce its adaptive bitrate patents. If the USPTO's decision is upheld, it could undermine Dish's litigation strategy and lead to the dismissal of pending cases. Separately, Fubo challenged the validity of Dish’s adaptive bitrate patents through an “inter partes review” with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (The Desk, May 2025). This review process examines whether a patent holder has a valid right to their patent. The outcome of Fubo’s challenge and Dish's appeal will be critical in determining the future of these streaming technology patents.