Sendo Drops Lawsuit Against Orange

[Robert Levy]

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2137954,00.html

"UK mobile phone handset maker Sendo has settled its patent infringement lawsuit against Orange, agreeing to contribute to Orange's legal costs. Sendo has withdrawn the lawsuit, but the terms of the settlement remain confidential, according to Sendo."

"The lawsuit was filed last month, as part of the fallout of a failed smartphone project developed by Microsoft and Sendo. In a separate and ongoing lawsuit against Microsoft, Sendo alleged that the software giant stole Sendo technology and gave it to other smartphone manufacturing partners, of which one is Taiwan's High Tech Computer (HTC). HTC is the manufacturer of the SPV, as well as O2's xda wireless handheld computer and other handheld devices."

"The handset maker said that the lawsuit against Orange centres on a patent relating to miniaturisation in the SPV's circuit-board design. The lawsuit was filed in the High Court of Justice in London."

"Sendo sued Orange rather than HTC because its circuit-board patent only covers the UK, but the company has applied for the same patent in other territories worldwide, a Sendo spokeswoman told ZDNet UK."

In addition to the above information from ZDNet, netimperative.com is reporting that this news is related to the fact that Texas Instruments (who manufacture the chip used in the HTC Smartphones) licensed unspecified smartphone-related patents from Sendo last week.

Note that the lawsuits between Microsoft and Sendo continue with no end in sight. The licensing deal between TI and Sendo combined with Sendo dropping the lawsuit against Orange may have an interesting side effect. If TI is acknowledging that they infringed on Sendo's patents, then it would appear that Sendo's claims against Microsoft for sharing Sendo's intellectual property with other partners are at least partially validated.

[Robert Levy]

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2137954,00.html

"UK mobile phone handset maker Sendo has settled its patent infringement lawsuit against Orange, agreeing to contribute to Orange's legal costs. Sendo has withdrawn the lawsuit, but the terms of the settlement remain confidential, according to Sendo."

"The lawsuit was filed last month, as part of the fallout of a failed smartphone project developed by Microsoft and Sendo. In a separate and ongoing lawsuit against Microsoft, Sendo alleged that the software giant stole Sendo technology and gave it to other smartphone manufacturing partners, of which one is Taiwan's High Tech Computer (HTC). HTC is the manufacturer of the SPV, as well as O2's xda wireless handheld computer and other handheld devices."

"The handset maker said that the lawsuit against Orange centres on a patent relating to miniaturisation in the SPV's circuit-board design. The lawsuit was filed in the High Court of Justice in London."

"Sendo sued Orange rather than HTC because its circuit-board patent only covers the UK, but the company has applied for the same patent in other territories worldwide, a Sendo spokeswoman told ZDNet UK."

In addition to the above information from ZDNet, netimperative.com is reporting that this news is related to the fact that Texas Instruments (who manufacture the chip used in the HTC Smartphones) licensed unspecified smartphone-related patents from Sendo last week.

Note that the lawsuits between Microsoft and Sendo continue with no end in sight. The licensing deal between TI and Sendo combined with Sendo dropping the lawsuit against Orange may have an interesting side effect. If TI is acknowledging that they infringed on Sendo's patents, then it would appear that Sendo's claims against Microsoft for sharing Sendo's intellectual property with other partners are at least partially validated.

[ShivShanks]

Originally Posted by Robert Levy

If TI is acknowledging that they infringed on Sendo's patents, then it would appear that Sendo's claims against Microsoft for sharing Sendo's intellectual property with other partners are at least partially validated.

Not at all. This could also mean that TI is not interested in litigation and wants to get Sendo off its back. It all depends how much apetite they have for litigation and how much the money is being shelled out for the patents w.r.t the sales that TI makes selling cell phone chips. The proper legality of the Sendo patents would only be settled in the courts. Also I don't see what is so special about Sendo that it would have key patents in the cell phone area that much older and mature cell phone makers like Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson, Samsung et al don't have. The very fact that the patent they sued Orange under is only valid in the UK speaks volumes. If their patent was so important and valid then why didn't patent it elsewhere (at least the US)? Settling with Orange also doesn't bode well for Sendo's claims in the sense that they weren't able to intimidate Orange. Its safe to assume that we haven't heard the last of this issue.

[Spongebob]

"Sendo sued Orange rather than HTC because its circuit-board patent only covers the UK, but the company has applied for the same patent in other territories worldwide, a Sendo spokeswoman told ZDNet UK."

It say applied worldwide, since it is applying for it world wide we can assume they will be getting it. Just because NOkia is bigger doesnt mean they are the only ones who are creative. If that was the case no one else would exist in technology.
when you are the company things look different in perspective. Invested interests must be protected. If they dont file the suit then whether someone is infringing or not, they are leaving themseves open.
If they werent guilty it is doubtful they would work out a settlment because of the company image and reputation. ONce a settlement is agreed to, it is understood those who are on the outside looking in, get the impression that the company paying out didnt want to see it go to court.
Money is always an iseue, resources, etc.