Oct 14

Patent Infringement Lawsuit Filed Against Disney: ‘I Am Number 514′

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The first DreamWorks motion picture to be marketed by Walt Disney Studios, I Am Number Four, is the basis for a new patent infringement lawsuit filed by Patent Harbor, LLC, in Texas Eastern District Court yesterday against The Walt Disney Company. Patent Harbor claims that the Blu-Ray and DVD editions of the DreamWorks film violates their patent, #5,684,514 (aka ’514) – Apparatus and Method for Assembling Content Addressable Video, with its ‘content-addressing features (e.g. illustrated
chapter/scene selection) along with the authoring equipment, and/or sale of the authored discs,
on behalf of others and/or itself.’

The complaint also makes mention of Walt Disney Studios’ distribution of Miramax films on Blu-ray and DVD discs but does not go as far as to name any other specific films other than I Am Number Four.

Patent Harbor is requesting a trial by jury with claims to both pre- and post- lawsuit penalties and royalties based on sales of the movies found to be infringing upon the patent. Similar lawsuits have also been filed against LG Electronics, Audiovox Corporation, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation, with the court urging the use of mediation in most of the cases.