<b><i>Online Extra</b></i><br> Snap Accused of Infringing Patents With Snapchat Tech

A Texas company has accused Snap Inc. of infringing four patents with systems that allow Snapchat users to scan “Snapcodes” and add friends on the popular social networking app.

In a complaint filed on June 13 in Delaware federal court, Kaldren LLC said the California-based company directly infringed the patents when it launched its Snapcode technology in 2015, and has continued to induce infringement by marketing and promoting the feature on Snapchat, which is available on the Apple Inc. App Store and Google Play.

Snapcodes have become an increasingly visible feature on the Snapchat platform. Initially introduced under the name “Snaptags,” Snapcodes are patterns that include a two-dimensional pattern of black dots set against a yellow background, displayed around a ghost-shaped border.

Each account is given a Snapcode, and Snapchat users are able to use their phones to scan the distinctive arrangement and instantly add friends on the app. The images are then decoded and processed through a complex technological infrastructure on Snap networks.

According to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records, the patents-in-suit were invented by Walter and Thomas Antognini. They were assigned to Cobblestone Software Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts, between 2000 and 2012. It was not clear from court documents when Kaldren acquired the patents, each of the patents was presumed valid under U.S. patent law, the company said.

Kaldren is seeking past and future damages in the case, as well as pre- and post-judgment interest.

Snap's press office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the suit.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Snap was founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy. The company went public earlier this year with an initial public offering, propelled in part by the strength of its Snapchat app.

The app allows users to share images and short videos within their social network that disappear within seconds of being opened. The company's related products include Spectacles and Bitmoji.

The case, captioned Kaldren v. Snap, has not yet been assigned to a judge as of this writing.

Kaldren is represented by Stamatios Stamoulis and Richard C. Weinblatt of Stamoulis & Weinblatt. Snap has not yet enlisted attorneys to defend the case, according to an online docket-tracking service.

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Tom McParland writes for our ALM sibling, Delaware Law Weekly. He can be contacted at 215-557-2485 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TMcParlandTLI.

A Texas company has accused Snap Inc. of infringing four patents with systems that allow Snapchat users to scan “Snapcodes” and add friends on the popular social networking app.

In a complaint filed on June 13 in Delaware federal court, Kaldren LLC said the California-based company directly infringed the patents when it launched its Snapcode technology in 2015, and has continued to induce infringement by marketing and promoting the feature on Snapchat, which is available on the Apple Inc. App Store and Google Play.

Snapcodes have become an increasingly visible feature on the Snapchat platform. Initially introduced under the name “Snaptags,” Snapcodes are patterns that include a two-dimensional pattern of black dots set against a yellow background, displayed around a ghost-shaped border.

Each account is given a Snapcode, and Snapchat users are able to use their phones to scan the distinctive arrangement and instantly add friends on the app. The images are then decoded and processed through a complex technological infrastructure on Snap networks.

According to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records, the patents-in-suit were invented by Walter and Thomas Antognini. They were assigned to Cobblestone Software Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts, between 2000 and 2012. It was not clear from court documents when Kaldren acquired the patents, each of the patents was presumed valid under U.S. patent law, the company said.

Kaldren is seeking past and future damages in the case, as well as pre- and post-judgment interest.

Snap's press office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the suit.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Snap was founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy. The company went public earlier this year with an initial public offering, propelled in part by the strength of its Snapchat app.

The app allows users to share images and short videos within their social network that disappear within seconds of being opened. The company's related products include Spectacles and Bitmoji.

The case, captioned Kaldren v. Snap, has not yet been assigned to a judge as of this writing.

Kaldren is represented by Stamatios Stamoulis and Richard C. Weinblatt of Stamoulis & Weinblatt. Snap has not yet enlisted attorneys to defend the case, according to an online docket-tracking service.

*****
Tom McParland writes for our ALM sibling, Delaware Law Weekly. He can be contacted at 215-557-2485 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TMcParlandTLI.