Wi-Lan Files Suit Against Apple and Others

Wi-LAN has initiated litigation against 22 major companies in two actions. The companies include chip suppliers, equipment vendors and electronics retailers. They are: Acer Inc., Apple Inc., Atheros Communications Inc., Belkin International Inc., Best Buy Co. Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Buffalo Technology (USA) Inc., Circuit City Stores, Inc., Dell Inc., D-Link Corporation, Gateway Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, Infineon Technologies AG, Intel Corporation, Lenovo Group Ltd., Marvell Semiconductor Inc., Netgear Inc., Sony Corporation, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Toshiba Corporation, Westell Technologies Inc., and 2Wire Inc. The suits have been commenced in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division.

In its filings, Wi-LAN claims that these companies have infringed and continue to infringe Wi-LAN's U.S. patent nos. 5,282,222, RE37,802 and 5,956,323 by making and/or selling various products, including wireless routers, modems and personal notebook computers that use. These patents are related to Wi-Fi and to power consumption in DSL products.

"Wi-LAN has successfully negotiated patent licensing deals with a number of companies covering a broad range of patent families and technologies," said Jim Skippen, President & CEO. "Our existing licensing agreements are a strong endorsement of the strength and validity of our valuable patent portfolio. While we prefer to resolve patent infringement through business discussions, we have consistently maintained that litigation was always a possibility when negotiations do not result in a license within a reasonable time."


Wi-LAN will be represented in this action by McKool Smith, a leading U.S. law firm specializing in intellectual property litigation. McKool Smith has successfully defended the patent rights of many high profile companies. The firm has conducted litigation throughout the U.S. and has particular expertise in the Eastern District of Texas, where Wi-LAN has filed these two actions.

Wi-LAN has a large and growing portfolio of more than 280 issued or pending patents.