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 : Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tulvio Durand who wrote (15926)	8/11/1998 7:29:00 AM
From: Zoltan!	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 77400

Cisco Systems Inc. Dow Jones Newswires -- August 10, 1998 Cisco Strikes Back At Lucent Claiming Clash Of Cultures By Mark Boslet PALO ALTO, Calif. (Dow Jones)--Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) struck back at Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU), countersuing Lucent for patent infringement and denying it infringed on Lucent patents as that company claimed in a June lawsuit. Cisco officials also sought to portray the emerging legal battle between the two companies as one of a clash of cultures: of slower moving telecom-equipment companies trying to impede innovation in the rapidly moving data networking industry. "We view Lucent's action as a marketing tactic to slow down industry leaders," said Kevin Kennedy, senior vice president at Cisco. "This is not a case of Cisco versus Lucent, but rather Lucent versus the industry." Cisco and Lucent are both seeking injunctions and damages in their competing suits. A Lucent spokesman denied the claim that the company has used its patents as market weapons. "It's not an old world-new world issue," said William Price, a spokesman. "Intellectual property is the lifeblood of this industry." Lucent spends more than $3 billion a year on technology development and "we're not giving our technology away," Price said. Kennedy went on to say Cisco also is confident about its position in the original suit, indicating further that some of the technology at question has been part of industrywide technology standards for some time. In addition, Cisco's countersuit should contribute to its defense as well, he said. Lucent's suit, filed in Delaware federal District Court, claims Cisco has infringed on eight patents that are from seven to 14 years old. The patents concern routing, frame relay and ATM, or asynchronous transfer mode, technologies. Cisco's countersuit, filed in Delaware and San Jose District Courts, asserts Lucent violated 11 patents involving ATM, fast Ethernet and network management technologies. Lucent spokesman Price said the company remains confident about its case against Cisco, but hasn't had a chance to review Cisco's countersuit. He said Lucent believes its claim for damages is for a "significant" amount. interactive2.wsj.com - "We view Lucent's action as a marketing tactic to slow down industry leaders," said Kevin Kennedy, senior vice president at Cisco. "This is not a case of Cisco versus Lucent, but rather Lucent versus the industry." There is no doubt that is Lucent's intention and tactic.