SUFFERN, N.Y., July 15, 1999 - General Patent Corporation (GPC) has entered into a license agreement with 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) with respect to four of GPC's patents. The patents relate to specific aspects of PC card modems, network adapters and other computer communications devices.
The license agreement follows a settlement of the patent infringement lawsuit brought by GPC against IBM and U.S. Robotics in February of 1997. IBM settled the lawsuit in August of 1997 by licensing GPC's patents. U.S. Robotics was subsequently acquired by 3Com.
"We are very pleased to enter into an agreement with 3Com, an industry leader in mobile communications" said Alexander Poltorak, GPC's chairman and CEO. "3Com's willingness to license GPC's patents is the best testimony of the industry recognition and acceptance our patent portfolio has achieved," he further noted.
According to Dr. Poltorak, with the 3Com License Agreement, more than 80% of the PC Card modems and network cards have been licensed under GPC's patents.
"3Com is pleased to license these patents from General Patent Corporation," said Sylvio Jelovcich, director of worldwide product marketing for 3Com's Business Connectivity Group. "3Com continues to be a leader and innovator in mobile information access products, including PC Card modems, cellular-capable modems, combination cards, Ethernet and Fast Ethernet PC Cards."
The patents include U.S. Patent Nos. 4,543,450 ("Integrated Connector and Modem"), 4,603,320 ("Connector Interface"), 4,686,506 ("Multiple Connector Interface") and 4,972,470 ("Programmable Connector"). These patents are available under favorable terms for a non-exclusive license from Acticon Technologies LLC, a division of GPC.
GPC was assisted in this transaction by the New York law firm of Stroock, Stroock and Lavan (SSL), whose team was led by Steven Pokotilow, head of the SSL IP department, and by the Technology & Dispute Resolution Consulting, Inc. (TDRC), whose Atlanta team was led by David Kennedy, Executive VP of TDRC.
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com