Acacia Research Loses ‘V-Chip’ Patent Infringement Claim

Acacia Research Corp. said Friday that it lost a patent infringement claim against television makers over its “V-chip” technology in the early stages of litigation.

The claim was dismissed by the U.S. District Court in Connecticut, the Newport Beach company said. Acacia might pursue antitrust charges or file an appeal.

V-chips, designed to let parents block adult and violent shows from their sets, are required in televisions with screens larger than 13 inches and sold after 1999. Acacia said about 25 million new TVs are sold in the U.S. each year.

Acacia’s Soundview Technologies has filed a patent and antitrust suit against some TV makers, the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Assn. and the Consumer Electronics Assn., which is pending before the U.S. District Court in Connecticut. Soundview also has filed a federal lawsuit in Nevada against 17 TV makers over the use of V-chips.

Acacia’s stock fell 76 cents Friday to $4.08 on Nasdaq. The price has fallen 63% in the last year.