Questioning the fax.E-mail fax service j2 Global Communications j2 Global Communications (Nasdaq:JCOM) is a company based in Hollywood, California that offers messaging and communications services. Its most popular service is called "eFax", which allows users to send and receive faxes via the Internet. j2 was previously called JFAX. Inc. has hit a detour in its aggressive pursuit of patent-infringers. The L.A.-based company has filed several patent-infringement lawsuits over the past year, including recent filings against Venali Inc. and Protus IP Solutions. Charges range from patent infringement patent infringement n. the manufacture and/or use of an invention or improvement for which someone else owns a patent issued by the government, without obtaining permission of the owner of the patent by contract, license or waiver. to junk-fax abuse, the faxing world's version of spare. But Venali fought back through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It petitioned the patent office to reexamine re·ex·am·ine also re-ex·am·ine tr.v. re·ex·am·ined, re·ex·am·in·ing, re·ex·am·ines 1. To examine again or anew; review. 2. Law To question (a witness) again after cross-examination. some of j2 Global's patents, and the office agreed to review its decisions on three of those patents. Because of the review, j2 Global's lawsuits have been put on hold by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, pending the outcome of the reviews. "It is a typical defense tactic in patent litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. ." said Jeff Adelman, vice president and general counsel for j2 Global, "used in order to delay the proceedings." J2 Global remains unfazed un·fazed adj. Not fazed or disturbed. because 80 percent of patent-re-examination proceedings fail to overturn the patent, Adelman said. "We continue to believe in the validity of our patents and look forward to receiving confirmation of this from the Patent and Trademark Office," he added. But Venali is claiming victory in stalling the lawsuits, issuing a statement that it will continue to fight against what it calls "anticompetitive an·ti·com·pet·i·tive adj. That discourages competition among businesses: anticompetitive foreign trade restrictions. practices" by j2 Global. Staff reporter Hilary Potkewitz can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 226, or at hpotkewitz@labusinessjournal.com. |
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