WiLAN settles patent complaints with semiconductor companies

WiLAN--whose sole mission is the licensing of patents to third parties--has settled more litigation it initiated against companies it claims violate the company's patents.

Canadian-based WiLAN said it has signed agreements with semiconductor companies Atheros Communication, Broadcom, CSR plc, Intel, Marvell, Ralink Technology and Realtek Semiconductor. The license deals have dismissed two patent infringement lawsuits WiLAN initiated in October 2007 related to Wi-Fi, CDMA and DSL technologies in laptops and wireless router equipment.

WiLAN's deal with Intel has resulted in the dismissal of litigation involving WiMAX technologies filed by Intel in October 2008.

And another complaint has been resolved pertaining to Wi-Fi and CDMA technologies in cellular handsets. WiLAN set it has settled its complaint with Personal Communication Devices. The company has previously announced license agreements with LG Electronics Mobilecomm U.S.A., LG Electronics, Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI), Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI), Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) and UTStarcom.

"The license agreements that we have signed with major semiconductor and product vendors have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in future revenues for WiLAN and send a strong message to the marketplace about the value of our technology," said WiLAN Chairman and CEO Jim Skippen, in a release. "I am very pleased that these litigations have been resolved without the expense of going to trial."

In related news, the company announced it has filed an application to list its common shares on NASDAQ.

For more:
- see this release
- read this other release

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