Qualcomm, Broadcom Settle Part of Patent Dispute

By Spencer D. Chin

TMCnet Web Editor

 

The patent dispute between communications giants Qualcomm Inc. and Broadcom (News - Alert) has calmed down slightly, with the companies agreeing to dismiss all claims and counterclaims associated with two Broadcom and two Qualcomm patents.

 

The agreement results in dismissing San Diego Federal Court Case No. 05 CV 1662 involving Broadcom's claims for infringing the now-dismissed Broadcom patents, thus eliminating a trial that had been scheduled to begin on March 5, 2007. The agreement also includes the dismissal of infringement claims under two of Qualcomm's (News - Alert) patents in Case No. 05 CV 1392, also pending in federal court in San Diego.

 

The remaining patent infringement claims between the parties in federal courts in San Diego and Orange County, Calif. are unaffected by the agreement.

 

The two dismissed Broadcom patents were among five that Broadcom initially asserted in complaints filed in May 2005 in the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in federal court in Orange County. Broadcom claimed that the two patents related to Bluetooth technology implemented in cell phones and cellular systems, and charged that Qualcomm engaged in unfair trade practices by importing the chips and other parts infringing its patents.

 

The two Qualcomm patents affected by the agreement were among five Qualcomm patents and four Broadcom patents remaining in a separate lawsuit filed in San Diego federal court in July 2005. Those patents had been divided among five separate jury trials scheduled to occur throughout 2007.

 

After Broadcom sued Qualcomm, the WCDMA chip supplier retaliated by filing a suit in a San Diego federal court, charging Broadcom misappropriated trade secrets relating to Qualcomm's development and marketing of WCDMA baseband integrated circuit products and the multimedia capabilities of these products.