Austin-based MonkeyMedia Inc. is charging Apple Inc. with patent infringement, according to a case filed last week in the Western District of Texas in Austin.

The local intellectual property licensing boutique claims the technology giant is violating three of its "seamless contraction" patents. MonkeyMedia, which has licensing deals with mega companies including Microsoft Corp., said certain Apple document summarization, RSS readers and video player user interfaces use their licensed technology; particularly for computer systems that have the capability to control the display of different versions of the same text or audiovisual content.

"We can sit by and watch Apple continue to use our patented inventions without paying, or we can do something about it," MonkeyMedia CEO Eric Bear.

"Synergy between inventors and manufacturers is healthy, and we love that Apple believes in our technology. We simply prefer open communications and fair compensation."

Founded in 1994 as an interface design studio, the privately-held company now focuses primarily on licensing boutique. Founders Eric Bear and Janna Buckmaster Bear worked previously with Microsoft and Yahoo Inc. and have created more than 100 patents.