The legal papers, which were lodged at the Delaware, US, Federal Court, cited that "products manufactured and sold by the defendants infringe on the extensive portfolio of Donnelley patents".

The company wouldn't comment on which Quark and Kodak-subsidiary Creo products are implicated in the claim but, according to a Donnelley statement, they are in the area of "digital print processes".

US website www.whatheythink.com gained access to the court papers and claimed the case is based around four separate alleged patent infringements.

Donnelley is claiming two infringements by Quark, specifically identifying the QuarkXClusive variable data Xtension.

Creo, Kodak and Kodak Graphic Communications Group have been cited as having breached all four patents with Creo's Darwin variable information authoring tool for Adobe InDesign.

According to its statement, Donnelley is hoping the US courts will award it "monetary and injunctive relief" from both firms as result.

A spokesman for the firm declined to comment on the situation, citing that "we do not comment on ongoing litigation". Quark and Creo were also unavailable for comment as PrintWeek went to press.

Patents allegedly infringed
- 452 US Patent No: 6,205,452: Method of reproducing variable graphics in variable imaging system

- 599 US Patent No: 6,327,599: Apparatus for controlling an electronic press to print fixed and variable information

- 940 US Patent No: 6,844,940: Imposition process and apparatus for variable imaging system

- 801 US Patent No: 6,952,801: Book assembly process and apparatus for variable imaging system

- Full information on the patents is available at www.whattheythink.com