Dec 17, 2014 11:40 AM PST    Text size: 

WILMINGTON, Del. — Adult entertainment conglomerate MindGeek USA Inc. has been hit with a patent infringement lawsuit relating to data distribution management and communication systems. 

Preservation Technologies LLC, which has rights to the U.S. patents, claims in a suit that MindGeek and 19 of its online adult properties infringed on 11 components covered under its patents.

The technologies at issue were developed by the University of Southern California's Shoah Foundation, which was formed after the nonprofit Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation — mainstream director Steven Spielberg’s group to make video recordings of Holocaust survivors’ accounts — became part of USC in 2006.

Preservation Technologies, in all of the patent holding company's infringement claims, said that  MindGeek has indirectly infringed on the patents by instructing others, including end users and customers, to operate the site "in an infringing manner."

In one example of infringement, "end users of the PornHub.com website retrieve adult videos, clips and other media types associated with keywords, such as 'sex,' by using the various catalogues, catalogue elements and attributes."

The suit, filed in October at federal court in Delaware, said the technologies were employed on the following MindGeek-operated sites: PornHub.com, YouPorn.com, Tube8.com, XTube.com, ExtremeTube.com, RedTube.com, SpankWire.com, KeezMovies.com, YouPornGay.com,  PornMD.com, Brazzers.com, Digital Playground.com Twistys.com, RealityKings.com, SexTube.com, Beeg.com, Mofos.com, MyDirtyHobby.com and GayTube.com.

Preservation Technologies has settled similar suits over its portfolio of patents on data distribution and communication systems, including those against Vimeo, Fox Broadcasting Co., Yahoo, Facebook, Netflix and others.

The Wilmington, Del.-based patent holding company recently sued other large companies that haven't licensed its technology. Those suits were filed the same day MindGeek was sued and targeted Viacom Inc., MLB Advanced Media, NFL Enterprises LLC, Vevo LLC and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Preservation Technologies seeks past and future damages, as well as attorneys fees in the suit against MindGeek.

MindGeek officials declined comment on the patent suit.