LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — Shortly after being awarded a U.S. patent related to its online credit application processing product, DealerTrack used the patent to file an additional patent infringement action against RouteOne and Finance Express in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Officials said this lawsuit is to add the newly issued patent to the other two patents it is already asserting against these companies. All three patents involved in the pending litigations concern computer-implemented credit application routing systems and methods of managing credit applications, executives said.

"DealerTrack values its intellectual property as an important company asset and intends to vigorously pursue claims for patent infringement against RouteOne and Finance Express," explained Mark O'Neil, chairman and chief executive officer of DealerTrack.

"We believe this new patent adds both strength and scope to our patent position. We are pleased with the progress to date in defending our intellectual property, and are optimistic that additional patents relating to this technology will be issued in the future," he continued.

A "Markman" hearing to review DealerTrack's claim construction regarding the prior two patents is scheduled for June 2007.