SUFFERN, NY, February 25, 2003 -- General Patent Corporation (GPC), a leading patent licensing and enforcement firm, has scored another important victory in its campaign to enforce a portfolio of four "smart connector" patents owned by its subsidiary, Acticon Technologies LLC (Acticon). GPC announced today that Acticon has recently brought to a successful conclusion its lawsuit against Psion, Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Psion PLC of London (LSE:PON.L). Following the Court's decision on certain key motions in favor of Acticon, Psion agreed to license the Acticon patents. The Court then entered judgment declaring the Acticon patents valid, enforceable and infringed.
Acticon brought suit against Psion in March of 2002, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Shortly thereafter, Psion moved for summary judgment, alleging that it was a third-party beneficiary under a license agreement between GPC and Conexant, Inc., the supplier of modem chipsets incorporated in the Psion products. The Court denied Psion's motion, and granted Acticon's cross-motion to strike Psion's affirmative defense.
Following this decisive ruling, Psion admitted its infringement and agreed to take a license under the Acticon patents, paying Acticon's standard 4% royalty for both past and future sales.
"We are very happy with this outcome," said Paul Lerner, Sr. Vice President and General Counsel for GPC, "especially so, because the Court has put to rest the notion that incorporating Conexant modem chipsets confers a license on a PC card product utilizing such a chipset," he added.
Acticon's "smart connector" patents cover specific aspects of PC cards and other "smart connector" devices used in mobile computer communication, networking and instrumentation control. Well over 90% of the PC cards sold in the United States today are licensed under the Acticon patents. GPC has successfully represented Acticon in 62 licensing transactions and seventeen litigations.