Searchmetrics Files Inter Partes Review (IPR) Petition To The Patent Trial And Appeal Board Against BrightEdge Patents
SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Searchmetrics, the leading global enterprise search experience optimization platform, today announced it has filed IPRs against two BrightEdge patents. An inter partes review ("IPR") petition is a formal request to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to determine whether one or more claims in a patent are not patentable because of prior art, which consists of either patents or printed publications that existed before the challenged patent was filed, lack of specificity or because the patent issued is too broad in nature.
BrightEdge has filed suit against Searchmetrics for infringing five patents, Civil Action No. 5:14-cv-01009, BrightEdge Technologies vs. Searchmetrics.
"We have looked at all five patents and were astounded that they are completely lacking in innovation. It seems that BrightEdge, which came relatively late to the SEO industry, has merely written down what many companies had already been practicing for years," said Marcus Tober, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Searchmetrics.
One of the challenged patents (the '700 patent) involves "search engine optimization and opportunity identification and forecasting for search engine optimization." Searchmetrics has challenged 13 of the 20 claims contained in the '700 patent.
The other challenged patent (the '746 patent) involves "search engine optimization and managing references to an entity on a network including determining share of voice." Searchmetrics has challenged 17 of the 20 claims contained in the '746 patent.
The reason behind Searchmetrics filing two IPRs Tober said, "two of the patents (863 and 089) describe what companies like Google and Adobe do and were doing many years before BrightEdge filed their patents." It is public knowledge that Searchmetrics doesn't do this.
One of the other patents ('706) is a derivative of the '746 patent, so it is most likely invalid if the higher patent is invalid too.
BrightEdge has patented "Share of Voice," a concept which has been around in the online marketing industry for many years. Other SEO vendors had not used this term before, but had been calculating a similar metric under the name of "se traffic" or "visibility" for a number of years prior to the patent filings. Tober said, "the way it works is the same, the insight given to the user is the same, all BrightEdge did was change the name. We do not see how this could be considered innovative."
Likewise, BrightEdge's 700 patent claims methods for displaying conversions that were being used by most Analytics vendors in the years prior to the patent filings.
About Searchmetrics
Searchmetrics is the pioneer and leading global enterprise platform for search experience optimization. Search Experience Optimization combines SEO, content, social media, PR and analysis to create the foundation for developing and executing an organic search strategy. It places the spotlight on the customer, contributing to a superior and memorable purchase experience.
Enterprises and agencies use the Searchmetrics Suite to plan, execute, measure and report on their digital marketing strategies. Supported by a continually updated global database, Searchmetrics answers the key questions asked by SEO professionals and digital marketers. It delivers a wealth of forecasts, analytic insights and recommendations that boost visibility and engagement, and increase online revenue. Many respected brands, such as T-Mobile, eBay, Siemens and Symantec, rely on the Searchmetrics Suite.
Searchmetrics has offices in Berlin, San Mateo, New York, London, and Paris, and is backed by Holzbrinck Digital, Neuhaus Partners and Iris Capital.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141112/158298LOGO
SOURCE Searchmetrics
Share this article