LEGAL ACTION: 24/7 Sues DoubleClick
Internet advertising network 24/7 Media Inc. has sued competitor DoubleClick Inc. for patent infringement. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that DoubleClick infringed on 24/7’s patent for its online system that provides targeted content and advertising to viewers. 24/7 is challenging DoubleClick’s use of its DART ad-serving system that targets specific ads based on usage patterns. 24/7 is seeking an injunction to bar DoubleClick from further infringement and plans to seek monetary damages for the period starting Feb. 1 and continuing through the resolution of the case, said Mark Moran, general counsel for the firm. He adds that 24/7 suspected patent infringement last February but did not have sufficient evidence until May. Elizabeth Wang, DoubleClick’s vice president and general counsel, says that although she has not seen the complaint, “Based on our initial review of the patent, we believe that any claim of infringemen! t would be baseless. We will def end ourselves vigorously.” No trial date had been set at press time.
