Skype accused of patent infringement

A technology firm is taking Luxembourg-based internet communications giant Skype to court for alleged patent infringement.

According to news agency Reuters, Via Vandis LLC has filed a lawsuit against the rival in the US, as well as in Germany and Luxembourg.

The claim refers to Skype's Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication systems, its methods, products and services.

Via Vadis LLC, also based in Luxembourg, has raised questions in its US law suit regarding two patents for accessing and managing data in computer systems.

Skype has also refused to share its source code with Via Vadis, a step which would confirm or deny the allegations.

Skype is currently appealing a search order request of its European offices.

The communications firm has declined to comment about the legal action, according to several media reports.

According to a company statement, Skype currently has 170 million users and saw more than 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations during 2010.