underwhere
01-20-2010, 06:16 PM
Wi-LAN Inc. (WIN.T) is again involved with a patent-litigation suit, but this time it's on the receiving end.
The Ottawa company, which licenses its V-chip technology, said Telus Corp. (TU) and Telus Communications Inc. have filed a suit in Calgary alleging ownership of certain of Wi-LAN's patents.
Wi-LAN hasn't yet been formally served with the claim, though it was filed on April 23, 2009, it said.
The announcement comes a day after Wi-LAN announced that it had initiated litigation in New York against LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE) and LG Electronics U.S.A. Inc., claiming fraud, breach of contract, and infringement of Wi-LAN's V-chip technology as disclosed in U.S. Patent No 5,828,402.
Telus's claims allege an ownership interest over four patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,369,670 and 5,570,305 and Canadian Patent Nos. 2,067,436-9 and 2,108,103 (collectively, the "Channel Estimation patents"). Wi-LAN said it needs to further investigate Telus's claims to determine whether they have any merit. WiLAN said it isn't actively licensing the Channel Estimation patents.
Telus also claims an ownership interest in U.S. Patent Nos. RE37802 (the "802 patent") and 5,282,222 (the "222 patent"), for which Wi-LAN filed a suit in 2007 alleging infringement by 22 major companies. To date, settlements have been reached with five of the parties named in the initial complaint.
Wi-LAN said it believes Telus's claims concerning the 222 and 802 patents are "entirely without merit." Wi-LAN added that it doesn't believe these claims against the 802 and 222 patents will affect the Texas litigation that is underway.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100120-716028.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
The Ottawa company, which licenses its V-chip technology, said Telus Corp. (TU) and Telus Communications Inc. have filed a suit in Calgary alleging ownership of certain of Wi-LAN's patents.
Wi-LAN hasn't yet been formally served with the claim, though it was filed on April 23, 2009, it said.
The announcement comes a day after Wi-LAN announced that it had initiated litigation in New York against LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE) and LG Electronics U.S.A. Inc., claiming fraud, breach of contract, and infringement of Wi-LAN's V-chip technology as disclosed in U.S. Patent No 5,828,402.
Telus's claims allege an ownership interest over four patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,369,670 and 5,570,305 and Canadian Patent Nos. 2,067,436-9 and 2,108,103 (collectively, the "Channel Estimation patents"). Wi-LAN said it needs to further investigate Telus's claims to determine whether they have any merit. WiLAN said it isn't actively licensing the Channel Estimation patents.
Telus also claims an ownership interest in U.S. Patent Nos. RE37802 (the "802 patent") and 5,282,222 (the "222 patent"), for which Wi-LAN filed a suit in 2007 alleging infringement by 22 major companies. To date, settlements have been reached with five of the parties named in the initial complaint.
Wi-LAN said it believes Telus's claims concerning the 222 and 802 patents are "entirely without merit." Wi-LAN added that it doesn't believe these claims against the 802 and 222 patents will affect the Texas litigation that is underway.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100120-716028.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines