That’s Our Gizmo, Tech Firm Tells Cinemark

DALLAS (CN) - A Cinemark mobile app, which helps people find a movie theater and buy tickets, violates two patents, Aeritas, a tech company, claims in court.

Dallas-based Aeritas sued Plano-based Cinemark USA, in Federal Court.

Aeritas claims Cinemark's iPhone and Android apps violate its patents on "Mixed Mode Interaction."

"The Cinemark iPhone and Android mobile phone applications allows a user 'easy access to any domestic Cinemark Theatre' and, in particular, to find Cinemark theatre locations via GPS, to establish, access and use a set of 'My Cinemark' favorite theatres, to purchase movie tickets securely, to search and view movie listing and trailers, to view and share movie information via social network sites, and the like," the complaint states.

"By interacting with Cinemark servers and applications, the mobile application allows users to locate their nearest Cinemark theatre, to search for preferred Cinemark theatre locations, and set up their own 'My Cinemark' favorite theatre locations." Aeritas claims the infringements occur when end users interact with the apps, which send requests to Cinemark servers that process and respond to the end user's requests.

Aeritas says it gave Cinemark notice of the infringement in June and again in August.

"On information and belief, defendant's infringement of the patents-in-suit is now being carried out willfully," the complaint states. "As a result of defendant's infringement of the '819 and '825 patents, Aeritas has suffered monetary damages that are adequate to compensate it for the infringement under 35 U.S.C. §284, but in no event less than a reasonable royalty."

Privately held Aeritas owns a portfolio of patents and intellectual properties in 30 countries, according to its website.

It says its techniques are used in sports, concert and event ticketing, airline, train and bus tickets and boarding passes, mobile payments, retail coupons, prepayments and customer loyalty promotions, among other things.

Aeritas seeks injunctive relief and damages for patent infringement. It is represented by David Judson of Dallas.

Follow @davejourno

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