MONKEYmedia Wins 180 New Patent Claims

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued to MONKEYmedia® a powerful new interactive media patent containing 180 new claims. U.S. Patent No. 7,890,648 teaches user interfaces for seamlessly accessing optional content without leaving the context of an audio and/or video program currently being played. The main stream of content pauses while the user engages the ancillary material, then resumes playing when the expansion is done.

“Seamless Expansion is one of the best ways to empower consumers of interactive media”

The invention of Seamless Expansion, which MONKEYmedia reduced to practice in the 1990s before the advent of DVDs, provides viewers with the freedom to explore topics in greater depth based on their personal interests. Current applications of the technology include behind-the-scenes featurettes on DVD and Blu-ray discs as well as in-video advertising on TV, mobile devices and the Internet.

"Seamless Expansion is one of the best ways to empower consumers of interactive media," coaches Eric Gould Bear, President and CEO of MONKEYmedia. "The more control you give the audience, the more engaged they become. When deployed in a movie, the viewer builds deeper relationships with the characters, actors, director and studio. If the expansion is an ad in your TiVo, iPhone app or YouTube video, the viewer builds stronger affinity with all the brands involved. Since choice is placed in the hands of the user, the impact is quite potent and the technique is hard to beat."

The '648 patent bolsters MONKEYmedia's portfolio of patented inventions, which can be licensed through its SeamlessTV Partner Program.

About MONKEYmedia, Inc.

Austin-based MONKEYmedia is a privately held user interface design studio turned intellectual property licensing boutique, founded in 1994 by Janna Buckmaster Bear and Eric Gould Bear, an Apple, Microsoft and Yahoo! alumnus. Its portfolio of patented inventions includes claims directed towards telescopic advertising and other enhanced viewing experiences; and essential to the practice of various industry-governed standards. The SeamlessTV Partner Program makes licenses available to companies using MONKEYmedia's patented technology and methods for telescoping ads and interactive video experiences on DVD, Blu-ray, video-on-demand, DVRs, smart TVs, personal computers, mobile devices and the Internet. For additional information, visit http://seamless.TV.

About Eric Gould Bear

Communication Arts described Eric Gould Bear as "one of the most thoughtful and provocative interface and interaction designers working in the field." He has been a leading force in the design of award winning human-computer interfaces since 1984, has published numerous articles on the subject, and is first-named inventor on over 100 software and hardware interaction patents and patent applications. Bear is an enthusiastic and inspirational leader, and has established user experience strategies for many well-known corporations. He is recognized for his collaborative approaches to creating easy-to-use technology and engaging digital media.

MONKEYmedia and SeamlessTV are trademarks or registered trademarks of MONKEYmedia, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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