Business highlights

Seven has agreed to license technology from Visto and acknowledges the validity and enforceability of Visto’s patents under the settlement, the companies said. The financial terms were not disclosed.

Visto, based in Redwood Shores, had sued Seven, based in neighboring Redwood City, for allegedly infringing on three of its patents on wireless e-mail. A federal judge ruled in Visto’s favor in 2006, ordering Seven to pay $7.7 million in damages. But Seven appealed and a trial was set for its countersuit.

Now both companies will dismiss all pending legal claims.

Visto has similar lawsuits pending against Microsoft Corp., BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion Ltd. and Good Technology, now owned by Motorola Inc.

Visto’s patent portfolio "is now further strengthened through this agreement with Seven,” said Brian Bogosian, Visto’s chairman, president and CEO.

Burkle, Web entrepreneur Greenspan explore

possible Dow Jones bid

Supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle and Web entrepreneur Brad Greenspan are exploring the possibility of combining forces on a bid for Dow Jones to thwart a takeover by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., according to a person familiar with the situation.

A committee of Dow Jones directors, including a representative for the Bancroft family that controls the company, was meeting Tuesday afternoon in New York with Burkle and Greenspan to discuss how a deal might proceed.

The person asked not to be named because the discussion was in an early, exploratory phase. It was far from certain that a formal offer would follow.

A spokesman for Burkle’s investment firm, the Yucaipa Cos., did not return messages seeking comment. Greenspan and a lawyer for the Bancroft family also did not return messages.

Shares of TV Guide publisher climb as it explores aternatives

LOS ANGELES — Shares of Gemstar TV Guide International Inc. climbed 12 percent Tuesday, a day after saying it was exploring alternatives that could include selling the company that publishes TV Guide magazine.

The company is controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Besides the magazine, the company also licenses its interactive program guide to cable and satellite TV companies as well as hardware makers. Gemstar also operates the TV Guide cable channel and a horse racing wagering channel.

After the markets closed on Monday, Gemstar Chairman Anthea Disney said the board is happy with the growth and strategy of the company and said it was taking the next step to boost shareholder returns.

"We are now poised to investigate the range of available strategic alternatives for continuing to build shareholder value,” Disney said in a statement. The company hired UBS Investment Bank as a financial adviser. It gave no timeline for making a decision.

Its shares rose 64 cents, or 12 percent, to $5.98 Tuesday after rising to a new 52-week high of $6.11. Its shares have traded as low as $2.59 in the past year.