Breaking NewsSponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group
Subscribe: Home Delivery Special!
InsWeb alleges patent violation
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D2
The tit-for-tat battle between former business partners InsWeb and Autobytel escalated Tuesday when InsWeb announced it was suing Autobytel and two other companies for patent infringement.
In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Diego, Sacramento-based InsWeb alleges Autobytel owned a company that stole its patent, called WebControl, that facilitates the tracking and logging of Internet leads and sales for car dealerships.
In addition to Irvine-based Autobytel, InsWeb filed suit against Autobytel I Corp., formerly known as AVV Inc., and Dominion Enterprises, which now owns AVV. AVV stole InsWeb's technology while it was owned by Autobytel, the suit alleges.
In a statement, InsWeb, whose Web site allows users to compare and purchase auto, home and life insurance policies, acknowledged that its chances of winning may be limited.
"InsWeb has not previously asserted this patent against any third party and the outcome … is uncertain," it said.
Last month InsWeb severed its relationship with Autobytel, a car-shopping Web site, in response to a patent-infringement suit that Autobytel had filed against InsWeb in December.
– Mark Melnicoe
Unique content, exceptional value. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Most Popular
More Stories in Business
- Sacramento’s Beutler Corp. pins hopes on water-cooled air conditioners
- Ask the experts: Mom knows best on tax deductions for gifts
- Letters: Reader finds fault with advice on portfolio management
- Bob Shallit: Former south state outdoors firm expanding its horizons
- Rules ask state benefit increase for workers injured permanently
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
QUICK JOB SEARCH
News |
Sports |
Business |
Politics |
Opinion |
Entertainment |
Lifestyle |
Travel |
Blogs |
Cars |
Homes |
Jobs |
Classifieds/Shopping
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Map | Advertise | Guide to The Bee | Bee Jobs | FAQs | RSS
Contact Us | Subscribe | Manage Your Subscription | E-newsletters | Sacbeemail | Archives
sacbee.com | Sacramento.com | Capitol Alert | SacMomsClub.com | SacPaws.com
Copyright © The Sacramento Bee
2100 Q St. P.O. Box 15779 Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 321-1000