Wi-LAN starts action against Apple and more

Wi-LAN continued its profiteering campaign on Friday by starting litigation against key computer and phone makers. The Ottawa firm targeted Apple, Alcatel-Lucent, Dell, HP, HTC, Kyocera, Novatel, and Sierra Wireless for all allegedly violating two patents, the first related to CDMA voice and HSPA 3G while the second touched on LTE 4G and Wi-Fi. As in most of its lawsuits, Wi-LAN is claiming damages but is known to be hoping for a settlement instead.

The case follows the traditional pattern of patent troll behavior. Wi-LAN has consciously chosen to file the lawsuit in a court for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler, a district known to be biased in favor of those making patent infringement claims. It also chose attorneys from McKool Smith, a law firm that regularly represents patent trolls in the area.

Wi-LAN is acting just a day after fellow Ottawa-area non-contributing entity Mosaid took management of Nokia patents that themselves touch on wireless technology and will likely be used in court. The two have lately been intertwined as Wi-LAN has tried to buy Mosaid but has been rebuffed in the short term.

Companies like Apple will consider the Wi-LAN dispute a repeat, having already been sued before by the copmany over different forms of wireless.

Wi-LAN vs. Apple, Dell, HTC et. al.

By Electronista Staff

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iPhone, patents, industry, Dell, htc, HP, lawsuits, Novatel, Sierra Wireless, mobile phones, Wi-LAN, Apple, Mosaid, Kyoceria