Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : ADI: The SHARCs are circling! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim Oravetz who wrote (1443)	1/27/2000 8:01:00 AM
From: Jim Oravetz	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2882

Analog Devices denies violating Silicon Labs technology By Semiconductor Business News Jan 26, 2000 (4:29 PM) URL: semibiznews.com NORWOOD, Mass. -- Analog Devices today denied allegations in a lawsuit filed two weeks ago by Silicon Laboratories Inc., which accused the chip maker and 3Com Corp. of patent infringement and trade secret violations. Silicon Labs, a supplier of mixed-signal ICs based in Austin, Tex., accused the two companies misappropriated technology involved its direct access arrangement (DAA) devices. These devices are used with modems to protect users' systems from lightning strikes and telephone service providers from malfunctioning user modems. In its response to the patent suit, which includes counterclaimsand a request for a declaratory judgment, Analog Devices stated that it has not committed any of the wrongs alleged in the lawsuit. In its complaint, Silicon Labs claimed infringement of a U.S. patent (5,870,046), which was assigned to Silicon Labs and named Jeffrey W. Scott as an inventor. Analog Devices said its own patent, awarded more than a year earlier, constitutes prior art, and that Silicon Labs' is unenforceable. In particular, Analog Devices stated that it believed that both the inventor and management of Silicon Labs knew of the prior patent during the course of the prosecution of their patent, but did not disclose it to the patent office. Analog Devices also observed that Silicon Labs filed its lawsuit just two days before announcing its initial public offering (IPO), and it said Silicon Labs attempted to keep the lawsuit under seal and secret, thereby preventing Analog Devices from knowing the specific accusations made against it and responding to those accusations. 3Com of San Jose has not publicly responded to the suit.