IRVINE, CA -- Local.com
Corporation (NASDAQ: LOCM), a leading local search engine, today
announced the signing of five license agreements for U.S. Patent No.
7,231,405, which covers methods for indexing and retrieving web-related
information by geographical location.

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The patent licenses have
been integrated into revised contracts for Local.com’s LocalConnect
platform, which was recently expanded via the acquisition of
PremierGuide. Former PremierGuide clients Community Newspaper Holdings,
Inc. (CNHI), GateHouse Media, Inc., Herald Association, Inc.,
Intellistrand, LLC and The Telegraph, including over 200 sites owned
and operated by these properties, have now completed revised contracts
directly with Local.com.
“We are pleased to license our
patented local search technology to these companies and we look forward
to signing more licenses over time,” said Heath Clarke, chairman and
CEO, Local.com. “Our method of geographical searching and indexing of
data by location helps to deliver the most relevant local search
results, and we encourage other companies that are interested in
improving their local search results to consider licensing Local.com’s
powerful technology.”
The patent claims cover local search
technology related to identifying location information from web
documents, indexing that information and making it searchable
geographically. In Local.com’s commercial implementation of the
technology, the search results are ranked by search term, LocalRank
score, and location prominence, among other factors. The system then
extracts, matches and indexes web pages from the Internet and generates
web references where applicable on more than 16 million local
businesses listed nationwide on Local.com.
Local.com announced in
July 2007 that it was granted U.S. Patent No. 7,200,413 by the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office. This patent covers a method of responding
to enhanced directory assistance inquiries using various protocols,
including voice-enabled and SMS systems. The method is designed to
monetize those local searches. Local.com has a number of additional
local-search-related patent applications pending.
About Local.com
Local.com
(NASDAQ: LOCM) is a top U.S. website attracting approximately 10
million visitors each month seeking information on local businesses,
products and services. The company also owns and operates a UK version
of the Local.com site (http://uk.local.com). Local.com is also one of
the largest local search syndication networks, publishing business
information on over 400 regional media sites. Powered by the company’s
patented local web indexing and Keyword DNA® technologies, Local.com
provides users with targeted, relevant local search results, including
special offers from local businesses, user reviews, local businesses’
website links, maps, driving directions and more. Businesses can
advertise on Local.com with subscription, pay-per-click, banner and
pay-per-call ad products. The site’s mobile service, Local Mobile™,
provides local search results via mobile phones and devices. Local.com
claims U.S. patent numbers 7,231,405 and 7,200,413. For more
information visit: www.local.com.