Wi-LAN targets Apple, Dell, HTC again over patent claims
updated 09:40 am EDT, Fri September 2, 2011
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.
