SEATTLE (Hypebot) – Music ID and discovery tool Shazam has been sued for patent infringement. Apple, Amazon, Napster, Motorola, Samsung Gracenote, Verizon Wireless, LG Electronics, AT&T Mobility and Pantech Wireless were also named in the suit as profiting from the alleged violation.
U.S. Patent No. 6,941,275, was issued to Remi Swierczek and Tune Hunter in September 2005. The patent covers "a music identification/purchasing system, specifically to a method for marking the time and the name of the radio station in portable device such as a key holder, watch, cellular phone, beeper or the like which will allow the user to learn via internet or regular telephone the name of the song, artist and/or music company by matching the stored data with broadcast archive." Shazam, which is among the most popular in the iPhones App Store, is accused of violating the patent with its music ID application.
