Silver Spring, Md. — Amazon.com was sued today by Discovery Communications for patent infringement by its Kindle e-book reader, the parent of The Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, alleged infringement of a patent issued to Discovery Communications for electronic book security and other technology. It seeks damages and royalty payments from Amazon.
It also cites the original Kindle and Kindle 2 as well as the Amazon Web site for infringement.
Discovery Communications said it and its founder and chairman John Hendricks were significant players in the development of digital content and delivery services in the 1990’s. Hendricks’ work included invention of a secure, encrypted system for the selection, transmission and sale of electronic books, it said.
Discovery Communications is represented in the action by Morrison & Foerster and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor.
