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 : Lucent Technologies (LU) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Adam Nash who wrote (17848)	3/18/2001 11:11:05 PM
From: matt dillabough	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 21876

Dow Jones News Service ~ March 18, 2001 ~ 5:15 pm EST MURRAY HILL, N.J. (AP)--Lucent Technologies (LU) is suing an Italian telescope maker for more than $20 million in damages over a potentially lucrative light- based communications system. Lucent claims it agreed to pay Media Lario $250,000 in 1999 to construct prototypes of the new communications system, but the company never delivered the prototypes and filed for patents in Europe and the U.S. in its own name. The system is designed to connect skyscrapers to the Internet by transmitting information via a beam of light, mirrors and telescopes instead of fiberoptic cable, which must be buried beneath the ground. Lucent spokeswoman Mary Lou Ambrus said the company wouldn't comment on pending litigation or offer precise details on the system. "This is simply a case of Lucent protecting its intellectual property," Ambrus told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Sunday's editions. Media Lario, based in Parino, Italy, didn't respond to e-mails from the newspaper seeking comment. The company makes mirrors for X-ray telescopes. In its lawsuit, Lucent says confidential information in the European patent documents will "irreparably harm" the company by giving competitors an edge to move forward with their technology. "This has the potential to get very ugly," said Andy Norwood, an intellectual property expert at the Nashville law firm Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis. "There aren't a lot of $20 million punitive damage claims filed. That's a serious claim." Lucent, based in Murray Hill, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Newark this month. (END) DOW JONES NEWS 03-18-01 05:15 PM