Verizon Communications filed a complaint Tuesday against Cablevision Systems with the U.S. International Trade Commission, accusing the cable operator of infringing patents covering "certain digital set-top boxes" and demanding that Cablevision stop distributing the boxes.
The ITC notice on the complaint did not identify the patent in question. The matter is docket no. 2717.
In a statement, Cablevision said: "It is becoming increasingly clear that Verizon is having difficulty competing on the merits in the marketplace, so they are resorting to filing lawsuits and pursuing regulatory bailouts. We obviously plan a vigorous defense."
Verizon also has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Cablevision in Delaware seeking monetary damages. The telco previously offered to license the patents to Cablevision, Reuters reported.