IP Law Daily, PATENT NEWS: Music streaming service allegedly infringes patent on “automatic directory supplementation”, (Jan 30, 2014)
Law Firms Mentioned:Bayard, P.A.
Organizations Mentioned:Bayard, PA | Chinook Licensing DE, LLC | Pandora Media Inc. | Pandora Media, Inc.
By John W. Arden, J.D., LL.M.
Pandora Media’s computer implemented method for recommending and prioritizing songs to stream to users over the Internet infringes a patent on “Automatic directory supplementation,” according to a lawsuit filed in the federal district court in Wilmington, Delaware (Chinook Licensing DE, LLC v. Pandora Media Inc., January 28, 2014).
The patent owner, Chinook Licensing, alleges that Pandora’s method of augmenting a directory without contemporaneous user input directly infringes at least claim 16 of U.S. Patent No. 7,047,482 (the '482 patent).
Pandora operates a web-based music streaming service that utilizes the Music Genome Project, the complaint stated. In order to recommend songs to a user, Pandora accesses documents related to a user and determines a set of musical characteristics that the user likes, prioritizes these characteristics, and employs them to search for songs in its database. If Pandora determines that a song is relevant enough to play on a particular station (categorized by artist or musical genre), the selection is added to a list of songs.
This process uses Chinook’s patented computer implemented method for augmenting a directory without contemporaneous user input, the complaint charged. “Pandora engaged or will have engaged in such inducement having knowledge of the '482 patent,” Chinook claimed. “Furthermore, Pandora knew or should have known that its actions would induce direct infringement by others and intended that its actions would induce infringement by others.”
This conduct allegedly caused Chinook to suffer monetary damages and severe irreparable harm, warranting an award of compensation and a permanent injunction prohibiting Pandora and those in active concert with it from directly or indirectly infringing the '482 patent.
The complaint requested a permanent injunction, compensatory damages, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and costs, enhanced damages, attorney fees, and other relief deemed just and proper.
The case is No. 1:14-cv-00105-UNA.
Attorneys: Richard D. Kirk, Stephen B. Brauerman, Vanessa R. Tiradentes, and Sara E. Bussiere (Bayard, P.A.) for Chinook Licensing DE, LLC.
Companies: Chinook Licensing DE, LLC; Pandora Media Inc.
News: Patent DelawareNews