Google, owner of the most-used Internet search engine, and Facebook were sued by a New York company over an invention related to software that lets people join social networks on their mobile phones.

Wireless Ink, which runs the Winksite service, claims that Facebook Mobile and Google Buzz are infringing a patent issued in October.

In a complaint filed today in the Federal Court in Manhattan, the company is seeking cash compensation and a court order to prevent further use of its invention.

The patent is related to ways of offering content that is accessible by mobile devices, Wireless Ink lawyer Jeremy Pitcock said in an interview.

The closely held software maker develops Web sites that can be made available over wireless devices and has more than 75,000 registered users, he said.

With the application filed in 2004, Google and Facebook had to have known of the patent, "given the time and resources defendants have invested in their desktop and mobile Web sites as well as their strategic importance," Wireless Ink said in the complaint.

Andrew Pederson, a spokesman for Mountain View, California- based Google, said the company is reviewing the complaint and had no immediate comment.

Larry Yu, a spokesman for Facebook, didn't immediately return messages seeking comment.

Facebook, based in Palo Alto, California, is the largest social-networking site.