TomTom will fight Microsoft in patent lawsuit
updated 11:50 am EST, Thu February 26, 2009
TomTom to fight Microsoft
After being sued on Wednesday by Microsoft over a patent lawsuit, navigation systems maker TomTom responded on Thursday saying it has not breached any patents and "will vigorously defend" themselves in court, according to a Thursday report. Microsoft was hoping to have TomTom settle and has announced it remains open to a quick resolution if TomTom agrees to an IP licensing agreement, something the two companies have not been able to accomplish in more than a year of negotiations.
Microsoft filed a complaint in a US District Court in Washington as well as at the International Trade Commission for TomTom's use of Microsoft-owned technologies as they pertain to car navigation technology. Specifically, there are eight patents in question, including three related to the use of a Linux kernel. Microsoft reps are quick to point out the action is not based on the open-source software itself, but rather a select number of navigation techniques in the operating system that are patented by Microsoft.
TomTom's rival, Garmin, has already licensed the technologies in question in this case from Microsoft. Because of this, some industry analysts believe TomTom will settle the case.
