PGA Tour Comes Under Fire for Alleged Patent Infringement

Looks like there may be some closed door meetings in Ponte Vedra Beach today in light of a lawsuit filed yesterday by DDB Technologies LLC against the PGA Tour, Inc. alleging infringement of 4 patents owned by DDB Technologies.

The patents at issue include:

1) United States Patent No. /files/22847-21779/USPN_5671347_versus_PGA_Tour.pdf”>5,671,347 (“the ‘347 Patent”), entitled “Method and Apparatus for Broadcasting Live Events to Another Location and Producing a Computer Simulation of the Events at that Location”

3) United States Patent No. /files/22847-21779/USPN_7373587_versus_PGA_Tour.pdf”>7,373,587 (“the ‘587 Patent”), entitled “Representing Sub-Events With Physical Exertion Actions”

So, what is this all about? The following 3 paragraphs from the complaint explain the basis of their allegations (i.e. Shot Tracker + PGAtour.com = patent infringement).

14. In the 1980s and continuing through the early 1990s, Dr. David R. Barstow, a Partner in and President of DDB, along with his brother, Daniel W. Barstow, a Partner in DDB, developed a method and apparatus for providing to remote viewers simulations of live sporting events including, for example, golf tournaments, etc. All of the technology required to produce such simulations is embodied in the DDB Patents.

15. Without DDB’s permission, the PGA began providing simulation products/services over the Internet that embody the invention(s) set forth in the DDB patents. For example, the PGA’s “Shot Tracker” product/service permits remote users to watch a simulation of live sporting events including, for example, golf tournaments. See, e.g., Exhibit E.

16. The PGA has been and still is infringing the DDB Patents by making, selling, offering for sale, and using products and/or services embodying the invention(s) set forth in the DDB Patents including, without limitation, the PGA’s “Shot Tracker” product/service available through the PGA’s pgatour.com web site, and by inducing and/or contributing to the infringement of the DDB Patents by others.

Click David Dawsey   – Monitoring Golf Industry Patent Infringement Litigation

PS – Traditional golf publications (all of which I subscribe to and greatly enjoy), throw me a bone once in a while and acknowledge where you got the info when you “break” this story! (I wouldn’t write about this if it was already out there)

PPS – click HERE  to read about more golf patent litigation