Pitney Bowes Files Patent Suit Against Zumbox

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Mail and document-management company Pitney Bowes Inc. said Tuesday it has filed a lawsuit against California-based Zumbox, alleging the company's so-called paperless mail service infringes on its patents.

Pitney Bowes said the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in California Central District Court, seeks to enjoin Zumbox from further infringement, among other things.

Though known for traditional mail services, Pitney Bowes said it has expanded into online communications, with more than $200 million invested in research and development in 2008, mostly in software products.

The lawsuit focuses on three U.S. patents: No. 7,478,140, "A System and Method for Sending Electronic Mail and Parcel Delivery Notification Using Recipient's Identification Information"; No. 6,690,773, "Recipient Control Over Aspects of Incoming Messages," and No. 7,058,586, "Information Delivery System for Providing Senders with a Recipient's Messaging Preferences."

Zumbox, based in Westlake Village, Calif., operates a Web-based platform for the delivery of paperless mail.

"We are confident that Zumbox is not in violation of, or infringing on, Pitney Bowes' patents in any way," Zumbox CEO Donn Rappaport said in a statement. "Further, we had no prior knowledge of this lawsuit before Pitney Bowes filed the suit and issued its press release today. We are just now reviewing the suit to better understand their motives."

Shares of Pitney Bowes slid 2 cents to close at $25.26.