By Andrew Chung
NEW YORK, March 23 (Reuters) - Several major banks were hiton Monday with lawsuits filed by California-based analogcircuits maker Maxim Integrated Products Inc allegingtheir smartphone banking apps infringe the company's patents.
The complaints were filed against M&T Bank Corp andthe U.S. affiliates of HSBC Holdings Plc and BancoSantander SA in federal court in Manhattan, allegingthe banks' apps, when downloaded to Android devices and AppleInc products such as the iPhone, use the patents withoutpermission.
The patents cover various technologies that secure data,including encryption for mobile financial transactions.
Maxim Integrated Products is seeking unspecified damages, aswell as an order from the court blocking the banks from furtherinfringing the patents.
HSBC declined to comment. Representatives from MaximIntegrated Products and the other banks were not immediatelyavailable for comment.
The cases are Maxim Integrated Products, Inc v. M&T Bank,HSBC Bank USA, National Association et al, and Santander Bank,National Association, Nos. 15-cv-2167, -2168, and -2169. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi andAndre Grenon)