Jim:
Any thoughts on why VISX sued ATCI?
VISX Enforces Patent Rights; Autonomous Technologies Corporation Named In Suit
Thursday, September 24, 1998 04:14 PM
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 1998--VISX, INCORPORATED (Nasdaq NM Symbol: VISX) today announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in Federal Court in Delaware against Autonomous Technologies Corporation located in Orlando, Florida. The suit is aimed at enforcing VISX's patent rights in the United States relative to the use of ultraviolet lasers to correct vision problems. The patents asserted in the suit are U.S. Patent No. 4,718,418 "Apparatus for Performing Ophthalmic Laser Surgery" and U.S. Patent No. 4,665,913 "Method for Ophthalmological Surgery."
VISX is seeking injunctive relief to prevent Autonomous from manufacturing, promoting and selling its infringing equipment in the U.S.
In early 1997, Autonomous and VISX entered into a patent license agreement in which VISX granted Autonomous a license to VISX's patents for laser vision correction outside the United States. In return for this license, Autonomous pays royalties to VISX on all sales of their systems worldwide, excluding the U.S.
Commenting on this action, Mark B. Logan, Chairman, President and CEO at VISX, said, "VISX pioneered laser vision correction and has spent tens of millions of dollars making this technology available to physicians and their patients. We will enforce our intellectual property rights to protect the investments we and our customers have made, and will continue to make, in this industry."
VISX is the worldwide leader in the development of refractive laser technology and has the most extensive patent portfolio in the laser vision correction field. VISX systems are commercially available in the United States and markets worldwide. |
