MARSHALL, Texas – A patent holding company has sued the top names in adult live cams, claiming they all are infringing on a patent.
XBIZ has learned that the targeted adult operators include Playboy Enterprises, Penthouse Media Group, LFP Internet Group, FriendFinder’s Steamray Inc., Vivid Entertainment, Club Jenna, Anabolic Video Productions, Evil Angel Productions, New Destiny Internet Group, Shane Enterprises and Private Media Group’s GameLink. The suit also includes mainstream operators TrueBeginnings, Woo Media
The allegedly infringing websites include AnabolicLive.com, HomeGrownCams.com, VividLive.com, PlayboyLive.com, EvilAngelLive.com, GameLinkLive.com, SpiceLive.com, Penthouse.com, AdultFriendFinder.com, HustlerLive.com, True.com, ShanesWorldLive.com, WooMe.com and ClubJennaLive.com.
Each of the companies are being sued at U.S. District Court in Tyler over allegedly infringing on U.S. Patent No. 7,277,010 . by making, using or selling video monitoring and communications apparatus and services, according to the suit.
The patent, which is owned Yonkers, N.Y., patent attorney Raymond Anthony Joao, seeks compensatory damages, attorneys fees and a permanent injunction, among others.
Joao, who is licensed to practice law in New York and Connecticut, owns a wide variety of patents, reportedly over 90.
He recently filed suit against more than a dozen banks and communications companies, including AT&T Inc., American Express Co. and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The banks were accused of infringing a patent that covers an apparatus and method for making secure credit card transactions.