Nielsen Sues TVSquared for Patent Infringement

Nielsen is suing measurement and attribution specialist TVSquared, claiming that it infringed a patent entitled: 'Methods and Apparatus to Collect Distributed User Information for Media Impressions and Search Terms'. The ratings giant's claim includes lost profits.

The suit has been filed in the United State District court for the Western District of Texas in Waco and concerns US Patent No. 10,063,378, which covers a technique for measuring audience exposure across platforms while protecting personal information. In a statement, Nielsen claimed that TVSquared had misappropriated its intellectual property. 'TVSquared's conduct has caused and will, in the absence of an injunction, continue to cause Nielsen to suffer damages - not limited to lost sales and sales opportunities. Nielsen will continue to suffer damages and irreparable injury for which it has no adequate remedy in law', the firm added.

Last week, Edinburgh, Scotland-based TVSquared was acquired by Connected TV (CTV) advertising delivery and measurement platform Innovid for around $160m. Innovid responded to the suite by saying it is reviewing the complaint, but plans to vigorously contest any allegation that the firm has infringed any Nielsen patent.

Web sites: www.nielsen.com , www.tvsquared.com and www.innovid.com .