Innovative Automation, LLC v. Inkling Systems, Inc. DC

Blackbird Tech LLC (d/b/a Blackbird Technologies) has launched its thirteenth litigation campaign since late 2014, asserting a single patent (7,174,362) already the subject of extensive litigation by its previous owner, Innovative Automation LLC. As RPX previously noted, Blackbird acquired the ‘362 patent in November 2016, and the NPE has now filed new cases against Mubi (1:17-cv-00099), Netflix (1:17-cv-00100), SoundCloud (1:17-cv-00101), Starz Entertainment (1:17-cv-00102), Studio 3 Partners (1:17-cv-00098), and Vimeo (1:17-cv-00103). The ‘362 patent generally relates to the duplication of digital data, and the accused products are the defendants’ apps that allow users to download video or audio files for later, offline viewing or listening.

Innovative Automation LLC continued its litigation campaign with suits against DirecTV, Flixster, Inkling Systems, Oyster, Paramount Pictures, Scribd, Warner Brothers Entertainment, and Zukor. The entity continues to assert a single patent in litigation, 7,174,362, which concerns duplicating digital media that is stored on a network. Defendants all offer media streaming or downloading services to users of their applications or services. Companies offering digital downloads of books, movies, music, and television have all been targeted by the campaign.