Heineken faces website patent infringement claims

Texas-based company Guyzar has sued Heineken for patent infringement centring on the brewing company’s website.

The case was filed on Friday, January 13, at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division.

According to the complaint, Heineken was “profiting in an illegal and unauthorised manner” by infringing US patent number 5,845,070, called “Security system for internet provider transaction”.

The invention claimed in the ‘070 patent comprises a “method of authenticating a user’s confidential information and preserving the confidentiality against unauthorised use”.

The accused function on Heineken’s website includes a “sign in feature”, which also allows for authentication of a user’s confidential information.

Guyzar said in the lawsuit: “Defendant has directly infringed and continues to directly infringe at least claim 1 of the ‘070 patent by using the accused instrumentality which allows end-users to log in and make their respective purchases or access their services, without authority in the United States, during the period in which the ‘070 patent was unexpired, causing damages to plaintiff for that period of time.”

Guyzar has asked the court for a ruling in its favour, an award of damages to compensate for the alleged infringement, and injunctive relief.

The company has also demanded a jury trial.

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