September 29, 2006

Rival Accuses Blackboard of Misleading U.S. Patent Office

By DAN CARNEVALE

Responding to a patent-infringement lawsuit filed by Blackboard Inc., the e-learning software company Desire2Learn Inc. said this month that the patent at issue was invalid because similar technology existed before Blackboard sought the patent.

Desire2Learn said in its legal response that Blackboard officials knew of the previous technology, called "prior art" in patent law, and failed to disclose that information to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Such allegations open the door

Digital or Print Subscription

Web Pass

Already have an account? Log In Now.