Household Files Action Against Decisioning.com

Affinity Technology Group Inc., Columbia, S.C., has announced that Household International Inc. has filed a declaratory judgment action against Affinity's patent licensing subsidiary, decisioning.com, in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Del.The Household complaint requests a ruling that Household is not infringing upon any of decisioning.com's patents and that these patents are not valid. An Affinity official said the company is evaluating whether to pursue action in Delaware or to challenge Household's suit. Affinity, through decisioning.com, owns a portfolio of patents that cover the automated processing and establishment of loans, financial accounts, and credit accounts through an applicant-directed remote interface, such as a personal computer or terminal touch screen. In September, Affinity filed a complaint against Ameritrade Holding Corp. alleging that Ameritrade's "Express Application" feature, which allows applicants to open and fund accounts online, infringes on one of the company's patents.