Hartman Newspapers, L.P.

Hartman Newspapers, L.P.

Hartman Newspapers, L.P. is a privately held, family-owned publisher of community newspapers in Texas. The company was founded in 1974 by Bill Hartman, who purchased a group of newspapers from Southern Newspapers, Inc. Over the years, the company grew to operate numerous local newspapers and commercial printing operations across Texas. While some of its newspapers have been sold to other local media groups in recent years, the company continues to publish several community papers. Ownership remains within the Hartman family. The company's headquarters are located in the Houston area.

The company's primary business is the publication of local news. Its papers provide community-focused content, including coverage of local news, sports, and events, alongside advertising services. At its peak, the company owned as many as 17 newspapers. As of 2021, the group owned and operated nine Texas newspapers and their associated websites. Examples of papers owned by Hartman have included the Fort Bend Herald, the Alvin Sun, The Brenham Banner-Press, and the Katy Times.

Hartman Newspapers' patent litigation profile is that of an operating company defending its business. The company has no record as a plaintiff in the patent database. It has been named as a defendant in one patent case, Authentixx LLC v. Hartman Newspapers, L.P., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. This defensive posture is typical for operating companies that are targeted by patent assertion entities.

The suit against Hartman Newspapers was filed in June 2025 by Authentixx LLC. The case involves a patent related to methods for authenticating electronic content, such as web pages, to verify their origin and combat practices like phishing. The plaintiff, Authentixx LLC, alleges that Hartman's online newspaper operations infringe on its patent. The case appears to be part of a broader assertion campaign by Authentixx.