Firing back at Proxim
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Tuesday May 1, 5:49 pm Eastern Time (2001)
Press Release
Symbol Sues Proxim for Infringement of Four Symbol Wireless Local Area Network Patents
Symbol Denies Infringement of Any Proxim Patents
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2001--Symbol Technologies (NYSE:SBL - news) announced today that it filed an answer and patent infringement counterclaims against Proxim, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The court filings were made in response to Proxim's previously filed complaint in the same court asserting patent infringement claims against Symbol, as well as several other parties implementing certain versions of the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard.
Symbol has denied infringement of any Proxim patents and counter-sued Proxim for infringement of four Symbol wireless LAN patents, which were developed by Symbol as a result of its pioneering work in the field of wireless LAN radios predating Proxim's asserted intellectual property. Symbol has asked for an unspecified amount of damages as well as an order permanently enjoining Proxim from further infringement of Symbol's patents, especially with products which do not conform to the IEEE 802.11 standard, such as Proxim's Home-RF product offerings.
``We remain perplexed at the logic behind Proxim's recent legal activities which were announced to the press without discussion with Symbol since Proxim has an obligation to provide to all suppliers of 802.11 compliant products with fair, non-discriminatory licenses. We intend to vigorously defend against the Proxim suit which we believe is without merit, and at the same time prosecute Symbol's patents against Proxim with particular focus on obtaining injunctive relief against Proxim's non-standard proprietary product offerings,'' said Leonard Goldner, Symbol's Executive Vice President and General Counsel.
Although Symbol believes that Proxim's claims are without merit, it has requested that the District Court join Intersil Corporation, a supplier of key wireless LAN chips to Symbol, in the action. Symbol believes Intersil has an obligation to indemnify Symbol and hold it harmless in the event that Symbol's RF products, all of which currently incorporate Intersil's chips, are found to violate any valid Proxim patent. |
