RE: was in WIN a long time ago......JMHO but we can look to Mosaid as an good example - settlements are done via lump sums or licensing - it depends on the patent. I can't imagin how complicated this must be as in is each company still using the patent or will they be increasing the use? Crunching the numbers for each settlement must be a nightmare, particularily for WiMax as it is just gearing up in the market. The fact that Nokia settled for a lump sum is very significant in the overall prediction of what others will do. Also add that Nokia traded some of their own IP as part of the settlement. So each company will be different in determing a $ value - we are talking millions so it will take time. The sp will act accordingly - no news - loss of interest - oversold - more interest to take a position to hold or trade as if you look back over the past year, there have been time frames where this channel traded very nicely for weeks at a time. Cheers
MOSAID settles litigation with ProMOS and Mosel Vitelic
OTTAWA, Feb. 4, 2008 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX News Network) --
<< Signs six year, royalty bearing license with ProMOS >>
MOSAID Technologies Inc. (TSX:MSD) today announced the settlement of its patent infringement litigation with ProMOS Technologies Inc. (ProMOS) and Mosel Vitelic, Inc. (Mosel Vitelic), both of Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Under the terms of the settlement, ProMOS has been granted a six year, royalty bearing license under MOSAID's patents for all Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) products sold worldwide under ProMOS' brand name. The agreement with Mosel Vitelic, which no longer manufactures DRAM products, calls for a single lump sum payment. Financial details of the license and settlement agreements are confidential.
MOSAID initiated patent infringement litigation with ProMOS and two other defendants, Micron Technology, Inc. of Boise, Idaho, and Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation of Hsinchu, Taiwan, in July 2006 in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. MOSAID added Mosel Vitelic as a fourth defendant to the complaint in November 2006.
"We are very pleased to have settled with ProMOS and Mosel Vitelic, and that ProMOS has entered into a fixed term, running royalty agreement with MOSAID," said John Lindgren, President and Chief Executive Officer, MOSAID. "ProMOS and Mosel Vitelic are the fourth and fifth companies respectively with whom MOSAID has successfully settled patent infringement litigation. Our preference has always been to negotiate rather than litigate, and we believe that this is a fair settlement benefiting all parties."
"ProMOS is the 17th company to sign a patent portfolio license agreement with MOSAID," said Michael Vladescu, Vice President, Licensing and Intellectual Property, MOSAID. "Following on the heels of the seven year agreement we announced in December with Winbond Electronics, this six year license with ProMOS further demonstrates the strength and depth of MOSAID's semiconductor memory patents, including their technological diversity and broad geographic coverage."