Apple & Amazon Sued for Handheld Films

CHICAGO (CN) - Apple and Amazon violate two movie distribution patents in determining what films to offer for private release on the Kindle Fire or iPad before the films come out in theaters, a patent holder claims in court.

Red Pine Point filed three federal lawsuits: two against Apple and Magnolia Pictures; and one against Amazon.com, and The Weinstein Company.

Red Pine, based in Wadsworth, Ohio, owns two patents on movie distribution.

"Movies have historically been distributed by leveraging the period of time when the public may only view the movie in a theatre. Thus, the movie distributor risked substantial capital to promote the movie, maximize box office sales, and prolong the exclusive period during which the movie was only available for viewing in the theater," according to a complaint against Apple and Magnolia, involving two patents.

"This historic method of movie distribution posed a number of challenges and missed opportunities. For example, promoting a movie in order to drive box office sales is expensive and time-consuming. In addition, and obviously, not all movies have the same potential at the box office. The target audience of 'Best Man Down' is not the same as the target audience of 'Avatar' or 'Titanic.'

"The '048 and '601 inventions provide a solution. By segmenting the movie distribution market and determining which movies' potential at the box office does not warrant the same promotional effort, companies may distribute movies like 'Best Man Down' to hand-held devices like Kindle Fire for viewing before 'Best Man Down' is publicly available for viewing in theaters or on DVD," Red Pine says in the lawsuit.

Red Pine claims the infringe on its patents when choosing which movies to make available for viewing on portable electronic devices like the Kindle Fire and iPad before the movie is in theaters or available to buy on DVD.

It seeks reasonable royalties for use of its patents plus interest.

It is represented by Joseph Siprut.

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