Discovery Communications Files Patent Infringement Suit Against Amazon.com

(Silver Spring, Md.) Discovery Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) today, March 17, 2009, filed a patent infringement suit against Amazon.com, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, alleging infringement of a patent issued to Discovery Communications for electronic book technology. Discovery Communications alleges that Amazon’s sale of the Kindle and Kindle 2 products and its electronic book delivery system infringe U.S. Patent Number 7,298,851, “Electronic Book Security and Copyright Protection System.” A copy of the filing can be found on Discovery’s web site: www.discoverycommunications.com.

Discovery Communications and John S. Hendricks were significant players in the development of digital content and delivery services in the 1990’s. Hendricks’ work included inventions of a secure, encrypted system for the selection, transmission, and sale of electronic books.

Joseph A. LaSala, Jr., General Counsel of Discovery Communications, said: “The Kindle and Kindle 2 are important and popular content delivery systems. We believe they infringe our intellectual property rights, and that we are entitled to fair compensation. Legal action is not something Discovery takes lightly. Our tradition as an inventive company has produced considerable intellectual property assets for our shareholders, and today’s infringement litigation is part of our effort to protect and defend those assets.”

Discovery Communications is represented in the action against Amazon.com, Inc. by Morrison & Foerster and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW: http://corporate.discovery.com/media/uploads/pdf/discovery-communications-complaint.pdf
Copy of the Court of complaint: Discovery Communications, Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc.
Copy of U.S. Patent Number 7,298,851