Texan company sues Scribd, Reebok, MySpace in patent complaint

A Texan company has lined up Scribd, MySpace, New Balance and Reebok in a patent infringement complaint centring on internet security methods.

In a lawsuit filed at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Guyzar has sought damages and attorneys’ fees for the alleged unauthorised use of its patent, US number 58,450,70, which protects internet users after they have logged into a website.

In one of the complaints, against online library Scribd, which was filed yesterday, July 20, Guyzar targeted the website’s “sign in with” feature that allows for the authentication of a user’s confidential information and its preservation.

“Defendant has directly infringed and continues to directly infringe at least claim 1 of the ‘070 patent by making, using, importing, offering for sale, and/or selling the accused instrumentality through its website without authority in the US, and will continue to do so unless enjoined by this court,” the complaint said.

The patent in question, called “Security system for internet provider transaction”, was issued on December 1, 1998 by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

It was acquired by Guyzar in September last year. The company has already sued several companies for their alleged infringement of the patent.

The complaint added: “Guyzar will continue to suffer damages in the future unless defendant’s infringing activities are enjoined by this court.

“Guyzar is entitled to compensation for any continuing and/or future infringement up until the date that defendant is finally and permanently enjoined from further infringement.”