Pitney Bowes Sues Stamps.com

Pitney Bowes Inc. said it filed a lawsuit against rival Stamps.com Inc. for infringing four patents on processes that let consumers track and compare shipping-rate information using the Internet. Pitney, the largest maker of postage meters, filed the suit in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. The companies each sell postage services online, including the ability to compare rates for different freight carriers and to track packages and parcels. Stamps.com called the lawsuit “baseless” and alleged Pitney was attempting to stifle competitive technologies through litigation. Stamford, Conn.-based Pitney fell 56 cents to close at $37.63 on the New York Stock Exchange, and Santa Monica-based Stamps.com declined 81 cents to close at $6.31 on Nasdaq.