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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Feb 23, 2018 17:28:17 GMT -6
variety.com/2018/film/news/moviepass-sues-sinemia-1202709289/MoviePass Sues Subscription Rival Sinemia for Patent Infringement MoviePass filed a patent infringement lawsuit Friday against Sinemia, alleging that its rival subscription service has stolen many of its key features. Both services allow customers to see movies in theaters in exchange for a discounted monthly fee. In the lawsuit, MoviePass accuses its rival of copying features of its mobile app that are the subject of two patents, both issued to MoviePass in 2013. The MoviePass app verifies that subscribers are at the theater using their phone’s location data. MoviePass also uses a subscription card to redeem tickets. Sinemia’s app and card operate in such a similar fashion that they infringe on the patents, MoviePass argues. “Sinemia’s infringement has harmed MoviePass’ existing customer relationships, has harmed MoviePass’ ability to obtain new customers and form new customer relationships, and has harmed MoviePass’ standing in the movie-subscription marketplace,” the lawsuit alleges. MoviePass has exploded in popularity, going from 12,000 to 1.5 million in the course of five months, according to the suit. The service allows customers to see one standard 2D movie per day for $9.95 per month. Sinemia allows users to see two movies per month — including 3D and IMax movies — for $9.99. Sinemia could not be immediately reached for comment. MoviePass laid out detailed allegations of infringement in two exhibits, which can be viewed here and here.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Feb 24, 2018 12:18:21 GMT -6
deadline.com/2018/02/moviepass-sues-sinemia-patent-infringement-1202301605/MoviePass Sues Sinemia For Patent Infringement Over “Remarkably Similar” Service MoviePass is suing its Sinemia for patent infringement, saying simply that its rival “offers a movie theater subscription service that is remarkably similar” to its own. The eight-page complaint filed today in California’s U.S. District Court (read it here) is heavy with comparisons of the two services, and ultimately claims that the defendant’s product “infringes at least one claim of each of the MoviePass patents,” which were issued in 2013, and “all maintenance fees have been paid for each MoviePass Patent.” “MoviePass has been harmed as a direct and proximate result of Sinemia’s infringement of the MoviePass Patents,” the suit says. “Sinemia’s infringement has harmed MoviePass’s existing customer relationships, has harmed MoviePass’s ability to obtain new customers and form new customer relationships, and has harmed MoviePass’s standing in the movie-subscription marketplace.” One big difference between the companies is that Sinemia caps the number of times its service can be used every month, and MoviePass does not. Attempts to reach a Sinemia rep for comments so far have been unsuccessful. After Black Panther‘s historic four-day opening of $242.1 million, second behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens, MoviePass has been rather quiet about how much money its shelled out for tickets. Those in the distribution arena believe the company bled a lot of money. Prior to Black Panther opening, parent company Helios & Matheson increased its stake in MoviePass and offered a $105 million equity offering. Current MoviePass subscribers stand at 2 million. Nicholas A. Brown of Greenberg Traurig LLP In San Francisco is representing MoviePass in the lawsuit, which seeks actual and punitive damages and an injunction against “further acts of infringement.” The plaintiff also demands a jury trial.
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