Mobile technology company MacroSolve filed patent suits against AOL and Bank of America, alleging the companies’ apps infringe a patent related to data collection systems.

In a statement, Jim McGill, vice-chairman of MacroSolve, said: “Both AOL and Bank of America have been utilising mobile apps as an integral part of their businesses. These apps, including AOL’s Moviefone and Bank of America’s banking apps, appear to be infringing upon our intellectual property rights. We believe that swift and forceful legal action is the best way to slow the sprawl of corporate copycat apps like these and protect the rights of individual and small-group innovators.”

MacroSolve said that in addition to licensing its patents, it provides mobile apps and services under the name of Illume Mobile.