Forgent to Settle Patent Suit

[Poke]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070521/forgent_networks_settlement.html?.v=1

Forgent Networks Agrees to Settle Patent Suit With DirecTV for $8 Million


NEW YORK (AP) -- Forgent Networks Inc., which provides scheduling software and licenses intellectual property, reported Monday it has agreed in principle to settle a patent lawsuit against DirecTV Group Inc. for $8 million.
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According to the agreement, which was effective May 13, the companies will "work in good faith to reach a final definitive settlement agreement," which will include an $8 million payment by DirecTV. Forgent has also agreed to grant DirecTV a patent license.

Forgent, based in Austin, Texas, initiated patent lawsuits in July 2005 against 15 companies in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The company sought an injunction against sales of products infringing on the patent and monetary damages.

Forgent said it continues to pursue litigation against the two remaining defendants, EchoStar Technologies Corp. and Echosphere LLC, both of which are subsidiaries of EchoStar Communications Corp.

On April 26, Forgent said it settled with nine of the defendants for a total of $20 million.

Forgent said it also will monitor the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's review of the patent and continue to fight any violations.

Forgent shares jumped 3 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $1.32 in afternoon trading. The stock has traded between 32 cents and $2 during the past 52 weeks.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I doubt that Echostar will settle as easily as Directv. They will appeal and stall till Forgent either gives up or go under as a business. Look how long the Tivo saga has gone on.

 

[Pepper]

This just came out:

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 21, 2007 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) issued the following statement regarding recent developments in the Forgent Networks, Inc. lawsuit:
"A Texas jury today returned a verdict in favor of EchoStar, finding invalid the patent Forgent accused EchoStar of violating. Forgent had asked for over $200 million in damages.

'While others had settled, we always believed Forgent's patent was invalid, and we appreciate the efforts of Judge Davis and of the jury vindicating our position,' said David Moskowitz, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, EchoStar."

 

[mike123abc]

A lot of these patent suits should go away now that the Supreme Court ruled that patents need to really not be obvious to someone working in the field, or applying something that works in one field to another. They really raised the bar on what makes a patentable technology.

 

[MikeD-C05]

Funny, that Directv paid 8 million to settle and Dish wins their suit. I guess we now know that stalling to the end sometimes gets you a win.