Roku's Patent: Plastering Ads Over Anything on Your TV
Roku has filed a patent for a system that would enable its TVs to display ads on top of any content being viewed through an HDMI connection, seizing moments of inactivity to overlay "relevant ads." The technology would monitor the video signal from external devices and use content recognition to identify onscreen content, allowing for targeted ad delivery. While filing such patents is common practice among big companies, the potential implementation of this invasive ad system reflects Roku's aggressive approach to advertising.