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Question: What do Acer, Apple, Atheros, Belkin, Broadcom, D-Link, Dell, Gateway, HP, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Mavell, Motorola, Sony, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, UTStarcom all have in common? Answer: They're all being sued by Canadian company Wi-Lan for allegedly infringing on a Bluetooth patent, one that covers a "method for frequency sharing and frequency punchout in frequency hopping communications network." The patent deals almost entirely with Bluetooth equipped PCs and mobile handsets.
"If the company has a valid claim, then a small licensing settlement is appropriate," said Roger Kay, an analyst with Endpoint Technologies.
Wi-Lan, whose portfolio includes over 800 patents that have either been issued or are pending, is seeking unspecified damages and a permanent injunction. This isn't the first time Wi-Lan has gone to court over patent disputes, as the company has a long history of doing so.
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Keith E. Whisman
April 12, 2010 at 10:46am
This is just a mockery of the broken Patent system and legal system. I wish I could sue all the lawyers that successfully engage in frivolous lawsuits at the expense of the American people and the US legal system. They cheapen the legal system and patent system with each frivolous lawsuit. Lawyers can turn down cases if they had any shed of human decency or pride in the american system.
