Discovery Files Suit Against Amazon

SILVER SPRING: Discovery Communications is alleging that its patented electronic book technology was infringed by Amazon.com with its Kindle e-book readers.

Discovery announced yesterday its patent infringement suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The suit maintains that Amazon’s sale of the Kindle and Kindle 2 products and its electronic book delivery system infringe Discovery’s U.S. Patent Number 7,298,851 for "Electronic Book Security and Copyright Protection System," issued in 2007. The patent filing describes the system as a "new way to distribute books to bookstores, public libraries, schools and consumers. The technological breakthrough of this invention provides a secure electronic system for both delivering selected books and receiving payments. The system has an unusual combination of features that provides the consumer with a daily use household appliance that has a high-tech aura while being very practical, portable and easy to use."

Discovery Communications and its founder, John S. Hendricks, have been developing digital content and delivery services since the 1990’s. Hendricks’ work included the invention of a secure, encrypted system for the selection, transmission, and sale of electronic books.

Joseph A. LaSala, Jr., general counsel of Discovery Communications, said: "The Kindle and Kindle 2 are important and popular content delivery systems. We believe they infringe our intellectual property rights, and that we are entitled to fair compensation. Legal action is not something Discovery takes lightly. Our tradition as an inventive company has produced considerable intellectual property assets for our shareholders, and today’s infringement litigation is part of our effort to protect and defend those assets."