2012 年 5 月 29 日，一家設立於美國德拉瓦州的 Cathas Advanced Technologies, LLC 公司 ( 下稱 Cathas) ，向美國德拉瓦州聯邦地院提起專利侵權告訴，控告 Apple Inc. 的 iOS Developer Program 網路應用程式開發工具，侵犯其所擁有之透過網際網路提供消費者客製化軟體之方法與系統專利。而 Cathas 亦在同日以另案提起告訴，控告甲骨文 (Oracle Corporation) 公司之 Oracle Application Express 網路應用程式開發工具，亦侵犯同項專利。
本案系爭專利為美國專利編號 US 6,925,445 ，名稱為「透過網路提供軟體設計 (Web-based design of software for keep-alive boards) 」，於 2005 年 8 月核發。 Cathas 認為 Apple 與甲骨文公司的網路應用程式開發工具，至少侵犯了該項專利之方法請求項 1 與系統請求項 10 。
此外， Cathas 亦在同日於相同法院，對 Amazon.com Inc. 、 Groupon Inc. 、 Linkedin Corporation 、 Expedia Inc. 、 LivingSocial Inc. 等分案提起專利侵權告訴，控告這些網站所提供之刊登行銷廣告的平台服務，侵犯其所擁有另一項有關透過網路提供品牌行銷服務之專利。該項專利之美國專利編號為 US 7,412,446 ，名稱則是「透過通訊網路提供供應商品牌行銷服務之方法、系統與儲存媒介 (Method, system and storage medium for providing supplier branding services over a communications network) 」，於 2008 年 8 月核發。
該兩項專利的原始權利人均為 Delphi Technologies, Inc. ，其為一家以專利授權移轉為主要業務的公司 。 (640 字；表 3)
表一、系爭專利之請求項解析
| US 6,925,445 請求項 1 |
US 6,925,445 請求項 10 |
| 1. A method for electronically providing customized software to a customer, comprising the steps of: 一項以電子形式提供消費者客製化軟體的方法，包括以下步驟 |
10. A web-based software delivery system for electronically providing customized software to a customer, comprising: 一個用來以電子形式提供效費者客製化軟體的網路軟體傳遞系統，包括 |
| receiving a customer specification through a web interface (Fig.3 - 304); 透過網路介面接收消費者需求說明 |
a web server (Fig.2 - 118); and software design code located on the web server for performing the steps of: 一個網路伺服器，以及存放於該網路伺服器的軟體設計碼，其用來執行以下步驟 |
| automatically creating customer compatible software that meets the customer specification (Fig.3 - 318); 自動產出符合消費者需求說明之消費者相容軟體 |
receiving a customer specification through a web interface (Fig.2 - 202); 透過網路介面接收消費者需求說明 |
| and electronically providing the customer compatible software to the customer (Fig.3 -320), 並以電子形式提供消費者相容軟體給消費者 |
creating customer compatible software that meets the customer specification (Fig.2 - 214); 產出符合消費者需求說明之消費者相容軟體 |
| wherein the customer compatible software is a customer compatible executable that is compiled from pre-existing source code (Fig.3 - 314) that is modified to include customer specific messages provided by the customer in the customer specification (Fig.3 - 312). 該消費者相容軟體是基於既有的原始碼加以修改，加入消費者在其消費者需求說明中所提供之特殊訊息 |
and electronically providing the customer compatible software to the customer (Fig.2 - 206), wherein the customer compatible software is a customer compatible executable that is compiled from preexisting source code that is modified to include customer specific messages provided by the customer in the customer specification. 並以電子形式提供消費者相容軟體給消費者，而該消費者相容軟體是基於既有的原始碼加以修改，加入消費者在其消費者需求說明中所提供之特殊訊息 |
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| US 7,412,446 請求項 1 |
| 1. An information exchange system (Fig.1 - 102)for providing supplier branding services, comprising: 一項用來提供供應商品牌行銷服務的資訊交換系統，包括 |
| a server (Fig.1 -104)in communication with a data storage device (Fig.1 -106)via a communications link, said server executing: web server software operable for hosting and serving web pages; and applications software, including a branding tool operable for creating and disseminating branded information; 透過通訊連結與ㄧ個資料儲存設備相連的伺服器，該伺服器執行可存放並營運網頁之網路伺服器軟體、以及包括可創造並傳遞品牌資訊之品牌行銷工具的應用軟體 |
| a database associated with said data storage device, said database storing: supplier subscription records operable for facilitating portal services, said supplier subscription records including customer target records; and customer profile records; a link to an enterprise portal site of a registered customer system; and a link to a subscribing supplier system; 與前揭資料儲存設備相關的資料庫，該資料庫儲存以下資料：可用來促成登入服務之供應商訂購紀錄，該供應商訂購紀錄包括消費者目標族群紀錄；消費者檔案紀錄；有消費者登錄系統之企業入口網站連結；訂購之供應商系統連結 |
| wherein said branding tool maps said branded information provided in said supplier subscription records to profile information provided in said customer profile records and transfers resulting targeted branded information to said customer system. 前揭品牌行銷工具就在供應商訂購紀錄中所提供之品牌行銷資訊、以及消費者檔案紀錄中所提供之檔案資訊進行媒合，而後將鎖定目標族群之品牌行銷資訊傳送到該消費者系統 |
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Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心 — 科技產業資訊室整理， 2012/06
表二、專利訴訟案件基本資料： Cathas 控告 Apple 、 Oracle et al.
| 訟案名稱 |
案號 |
管轄法院 |
提告日期 |
系爭專利 |
| Cathas Advanced Technologies LLC v. Groupon Inc. |
1:12-cv-00671 |
ded |
2012/5/29 |
US7412446 |
| Cathas Advanced Technologies LLC v. Linkedin Corporation |
1:12-cv-00672 |
ded |
2012/5/29 |
US7412446 |
| Cathas Advanced Technologies LLC v. Expedia Inc. |
1:12-cv-00670 |
ded |
2012/5/29 |
US7412446 |
| Cathas Advanced Technologies LLC v. Amazon.com Inc. |
1:12-cv-00668 |
ded |
2012/5/29 |
US7412446 |
| Cathas Advanced Technologies LLC v. LivingSocial Inc. |
1:12-cv-00673 |
ded |
2012/5/29 |
US7412446 |
| Cathas Advanced Technologies LLC v. Apple Inc. |
1:12-cv-00669 |
ded |
2012/5/29 |
US6925445 |
| Cathas Advanced Technologies LLC v. Oracle |
1:12-cv-00674 |
ded |
2012/5/29 |
US6925445 |
訴狀下載 ： |
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Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心 — 科技產業資訊室整理， 2012/06
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