Netflix Settles Patent Dispute With Blockbuster

Netflix Inc., the mail order video and DVD rental firm, has settled its patent infringement lawsuit with video rental chain Blockbuster Inc., according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Wednesday.

The settlement will "have no material effect on Blockbuster's future financial performance,"´according to the filing. No further details were released.

Last year, Netflix sued Blockbuster for patent infringement, alleging that Blockbuster's Web site Blockbuster.com illegally copied Netflix's method of allowing customers to order videos over the Internet (Direct Newsline, April 5, 2006).