Patent Law

Enough

By Gary Odom and Jordan Kuhn

In a lucrative win-win only for respective law firms representing nimrod HP and upstart Acer, HP, with more to lose, backed down. The two computer firms have settled their patent spat. Terms undisclosed. HP had asserted ten patents against Acer in East Texas in March 2007, as well as sprouting an ITC investigation. Taiwan-based Acer counterclaimed in July with its own East Texas suit of seven patents.

HP is the world's top PC vendor. Acer leapt over Lenovo last year to take the number three spot, behind HP and Dell.

Patent-portfolio-holding competitors that sue each other are like carpet crawlers fighting over toys. The behavior is ubiquitous. Patent Hawk, who pays the rent by tearing patents apart like they were cheap toilet paper, thanks you.

Full post as published by The Patent Prospector on June 09, 2008 (boomark / email).