Acticon Technologies Settles Patent Infringement Suit with Askey
SUFFERN, N.Y., Aug. 8 LAWFUEL – Law News Network — General Patent Corporation International (GPCI), a leading patent licensing and enforcement firm, has scored another victory in its campaign to enforce a portfolio of “smart connector” patents owned by its subsidiary, Acticon Technologies LLC (Acticon). GPCI announced today that Acticon has settled its longstanding patent infringement lawsuit against Askey, its 24th successful litigation to enforce these patents.
Acticon brought suit against Askey Computer Corporation of Taiwan and
Askey International Corporation of LaVerne, CA in June of 2002, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (Case No. 02-CV-2729). Askey ultimately agreed to settle, and to pay past damages on the
patents-in-suit.
During the course of the lawsuit, Askey initiated reexamination
proceedings at the USPTO for three of Acticon’s patents: U.S. Patent Nos.
4,603,320 (“Connector Interface”), 4,686,506 (“Multiple Connector
Interface”) and 4,972,470 (“Programmable Connector”). The Patent Office
disagreed with Askey’s arguments that these patents were invalid in view of
the prior art, and upheld all claims of all patents.
“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the Askey litigation,”
said Paul Lerner, Sr. Vice President and General Counsel for GPCI. “It was
unfortunate that Askey chose litigation and reexamination proceedings over
a simple licensing transaction; but the reexaminations were extremely
beneficial to Acticon, the litigation is finally over, and we can now focus
our attention on other remaining infringers,” he added.
Acticon’s “smart connector” patents cover specific aspects of PC cards and other “smart connector” devices used in mobile computer communications, networking, and instrumentation control. GPCI has successfully represented
Acticon in 24 litigations and one hundred thirty-six licensing and
settlement transactions related to these patents.
About Acticon Technologies
Acticon Technologies LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Patent
Corporation International, is a computer connectivity and communications
technology company based in Suffern, NY. Acticon’s award-winning smart
connector technology is based on U.S. Patent Nos. 4,543,450 (“Integrated
Connector and Modem”) (now expired), 4,603,320 (“Connector Interface”) (now
expired), 4,686,506 (“Multiple Connector Interface”) (now expired), and
4,972,470 (“Programmable Connector”). Acticon Technologies offers non-
exclusive licenses under the ‘470 patent. For licensing terms, contact
Kathlene Ingham at (845) 368-4000, x107. For more information on Acticon
visit http://www.acticontech.com.
About General Patent Corporation International
General Patent Corporation International (GPCI) is a premier IP
licensing and enforcement firm headquartered in Suffern, NY. GPCI
represents clients in IP enforcement matters and licensing transactions on
a contingency basis. GPCI is the oldest such organization in the US. For
more information on GPCI visit http://www.gpci.com.
General Patent Corporation (GPC), an affiliate of GPCI, is a leading
intellectual property management firm. GPC provides IP analysis and
strategy, IP audit and valuation, IP portfolio mining and management, and
technology transfer services to domestic and foreign businesses,
universities, research institutions and individual inventors. For more
information on GPC visit http://www.generalpatent.com.
IP Holdings LLC, another affiliate of GPCI, is an idea incubator and an
IP-centric merchant banking organization. For more information on IP
Holdings visit http://www.ip-holdings.com
For further information on Acticon, GPCI, GPC and IP Holdings contact
General Patent Corporation, Montebello Park, 75 Montebello Road, Suffern,
NY 10901-3740; telephone: (845) 368-4000; e-mail: info@gpci.com.
