The two companies, which together represent one of the 22 firms against which WiLAN launched a patent litigation suit in October 2007, have signed up for a running royalty licence to certain WiLAN wireless technologies, the Ottawa-based patent firm said.
All litigation between the Buffalo and WiLAN are now settled.
“We are pleased that we have been able to settle our litigation with Buffalo on amicable terms and that Buffalo has signed a long-term running royalty agreement,” said WiLAN chief executive Jim Skippen in a statement. “Our preference is always to negotiate reasonable licence agreements, but we are fully prepared to defend our intellectual property in court if that is necessary.”
“Our preference is always to negotiate reasonable licence agreements, but we are fully prepared to defend our intellectual property in court if that is necessary.” - Jim Skippen, CEO of WiLAN
Buffalo is the fifth company involved in the lawsuit that has settled with WiLAN, following in the footsteps of Best Buy Co. Inc., Circuit City Stores Inc., Texas Instruments Inc. and Infineon Technologies AG.
WiLAN also managed to get another one of the defendants, Marvell Semiconductor Inc., to settle in the U.S. District Court for the northern district of California.
The local firm had alleged that the 22 firms had infringed on several of its patents, including U.S. patent nos. 5,282,222 and RE37,802, by making and/or selling wireless and connectivity equipment and personal notebook computers which use the intellectual property covered by the patents.
Despite the news of the latest settlement, shares of WiLAN fell Tuesday morning, losing nine cents to drop to $2.50 at 12:43 p.m.
