A little-known New York company has won a round in federal court against giants Facebook and Google.
Wireless Ink Corp. and its Winksite service sued Facebook and Google in U.S. District Court in New York, claiming that Facebook Mobile and Google Buzz are violating a patent that Wireless Ink received in 2009.
The patent has to do with helping mobile phone users join social networks.
Wireless wants the companies to stop what it considers patent infringement and it wants cash damages.
Facebook and Google had asked a judge to dismiss the complaint. In a ruling made public Friday, U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel said the case can go on.
Representatives of the three companies were unavailable Friday.
