Acacia Settles Suit With AOL Over ‘Skins’ Advertising

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — As the case against a group of online adult companies continues in federal court over digital media transmission, Acacia Research Corp. has settled litigation in a separate case over electronic message advertising against America Online.

Acacia this week said its Creative Internet Advertising Corp. division licensed several patents to AOL to settle litigation between the two companies.

Acacia’s patent on electronic message advertising, U.S. Patent No. 6,205,432, relates to the software, methods and systems used to insert, transmit and display background images and graphics into instant-messaging skins and email backgrounds.

According to patent “432,” “the advertisement itself, often a graphical file, is preferably not transmitted with the message but is typically stored at the message server or other location remote from the end-user recipient.”

Acacia filed suit in July against AOL and Yahoo over the “skins” technology it claims it owns. The suit against Yahoo still stands.

Calls to AOL and Acacia counsel Eric M. Albritton went unreturned at press time.

Acacia’s separate case against the group of online adult companies reaches back to 2002, when Acacia began sending out media packets asserting that the companies were violating patents associated with its digital media transmission technology, which Acacia claimed covered virtually any manner of transmitting and receiving digital and audio content over the Internet.

Although Acacia was able to secure settlements from a number of adult companies, other companies fought back, and eventually coalesced into the united Adult Defense Group effort.

The case against the Adult Defense Group continues at U.S. District Court in San Jose.

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

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

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 in 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.

Show More