Now it is public: Ericsson lost to Harris. In the long-run, how would this play out? This seems to have raised the probability of losing to IDCC as well. Given the Ericsson's relationship with the Qcom, how an additional (or negotiated) loss would impact Qcom's porfitability?
RELATED SYMBOLS: (HRS)(ERICD)
NEW YORK, Oct 30, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- A Texas jury Wednesday
awarded Harris Corp. $61 million after finding that Sweden's Telefon AB L.M.
Ericsson willfully infringed on a now expired patent for technology that helps
regulate signals flowing into cell phones.
Harris, which makes communications equipment, said in a statement that it is
likely Ericsson will appeal the decision. Harris, based in Melbourne, Florida,
noted that the jury's finding of willful conduct allows the judge in the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of Texas to double or triple the jury's
award.
An Ericsson representative wasn't immediately available to comment on the jury's
decision.
Harris filed suit against Ericsson in 1988, two years before the patent expired.
Harris said the award was based on the royalty rate Harris used in licensing the
technology.
In 1980, Harris filed for a patent for a combination of hardware and software
that helped a mobile phone make sense of digital transmissions. The technology
helps a cell phone that receives the same signal at different times, which can
occur when one signal is delayed by interference such as a building.
Harris, which uses the system in its high-frequency military radio equipment,
said mobile phone makers like Nokia Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp. also use the
technology.
For the fiscal year ended June 28, Harris posted revenue of about $1.88 billion. |
