MINNEAPOLIS — A number of adult entertainment companies were sued yesterday over patent infringement claims involving mobile media delivery technology. Vivid Entertainment, Penthouse, Playboy Enterprises and Manwin each were sued by two inventors, John Mikkelson and Robert Freidson, who operate Wayzata, Minn.-based Skky Inc., the owner of the patent. Together, Mikkelson and Freidson are listed as inventors of 26 U.S. patents. Other firms besides the adult entertainment companies were sued yesterday. Thumbplay Ringtones LLC, Click Sales Inc., Dada Entertainment LLC, hosting company Reflected Networks and the operator of Mxyer.com also face similar civil action. All nine companies were sued over U.S. Patent No. 7,548,875, which was awarded to Skky Inc. in 2009. The patent focuses on systems of playing back compressed audio and visual files on mobile devices. Each of the suits were filed at U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. Specifically, U.S. Patent No. 7,548,875 is described as an “improved method for delivery and play back of sound and image files is provided, including the use of the files as alerts for various electronic devices or for playing on a handheld device.” “Algorithms are provided for the delivery, storage, and playback of sound files, including a delivery method algorithm, a parametric optimization and compression algorithm, and an error correction algorithm,” the patent says. “The files may be selected from and downloaded to the electronic device with or without the use of a worldwide network connection.” U.S. Patent No. 7,548,875 also says that the delivery system “will also integrate with future wireless technology, such as 3G systems, as it becomes available, for offering enhanced capabilities for accessing, delivering, and using sound and image files.”
