Facebook Accuses Boston Phoenix Owner, WFNX Radio of Breaching Two Patents

Facebook, the world's biggest social-networking website, accused the owner of the Boston Phoenix newspaper and WFNX radio station of infringing two patents related to ways to manage information online.

Facebook filed the complaint at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Boston) against Phoenix Media/Communications Group Inc. and its People2People Group, Tele-Publishing and FNX Broadcasting units. The allegations were made in response to a patent-infringement lawsuit Tele-Publishing filed last year against Facebook. Facebook claims features including the "band guide" and "find restaurants" on the newspaper's website, as well as the radio station's online music player, are infringing the two patents. It's seeking cash compensation and an order that would prevent further use of the inventions.