Court Affirms MindGeek Win Over Mobile Transmission Technology

Court Affirms MindGeek Win Over Mobile Transmission Technology

WASHINGTON — Adult entertainment conglomerate MindGeek today scored a legal victory as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a decision to invalidate part of Skky Inc.’s patent for transmitting and playing compressed audio and video files to mobile devices.

In the decision, a three-judge panel ruled that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Trial and Appeal Board did not err in concluding that the challenged claims are unpatentable because some of the steps in the patent were obvious at the time patent was issued.

Specifically, U.S. Patent No. 7,548,875 is described as an "improved method for delivery and play back of sound and image files is provided, including the use of the files as alerts for various electronic devices or for playing on a handheld device."

The patent also is listed as a delivery system that "will also integrate with future wireless technology, such as 3G systems, as it becomes available, for offering enhanced capabilities for accessing, delivering, and using sound and image files."

In the case, MindGeek filed its appeal to the appeals court with Playboy Enterprises Inc., which it has a business relationship with.

Skky, which was awarded the patent in 2009, has sued other adult companies over allegedly infringing over U.S. Patent No. 7,548,875. One case involves Vivid Entertainment; that suit is still pending. Another claim involved the former operator of Penthouse prior to its sale in February 2016; that suit was settled out of court.

The suits were brought by two inventors, John Mikkelson and Robert Freidson, who operate Wayzata, Minn.-based Skky Inc., the owner of the patent. Together, Mikkelson and Freidson are listed as inventors of 26 U.S. patents.

View ruling

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Show More