Patent violation allegations have prompted Nashville’s edo Interactive to file a lawsuit against an Austin, Texas-based firm.
According to the suit [2] filed in Middle Tennessee District Court last week, edo alleges that BancVue Ltd. has “repeatedly asserted” that edo is in violation of a BancVue patent, referred to as the ‘264 Patent for an “Automated Reward Program.” Edo contents that it is not violating the patent and that the patent is in fact invalid.
“Without a declaration of non-infringement and/or invalidity, BancVue will continue to wrongly assert the ‘264 Patent against edo, thereby causing edo irreparable harm,” the complaint reads.
The patent in question is for a “system and method for operating an automated reward system through a financial institution over a network of merchants that have enrolled in the institution’s reward program.” BancVue, which was named one of the 10 most innovative [3] companies in finance by Fast Company this year, had about $80 million in revenue in 2010.
Edo, founded in 2007, provides digital and mobile advertising services, including a program to embed retail offers on consumer’s payment card that can be redeemed at the merchant’s point of sale. As of October [4], it employed about 20 people in two offices.
In addition to declaratory judgment, edo is seeking an award of costs and attorney’s fees.
A media representative from BancVue did not respond to an email seeking comment Friday. Edo is represented in the matter by Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis attorney Richard G. Sanders.