Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI)

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DJ Wi-LAN Settles Patent Dispute With Motorola >MOT

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By Stuart Weinberg
OF DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


TORONTO (Dow Jones)--Motorola is the latest technology bellwether to settle a multi-defendant patent dispute with Wi-LAN Inc. (WIN.T).

Wi-LAN, an Ottawa patent-licensing company, said it has settled all pending patent litigation with Motorola. The company indicated that Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI) and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) have both obtained multi-year licenses to Wi-LAN's patent portfolio. Each company will make a series of fixed cash payments to Wi-LAN, though the amount, and other terms of the deal, are confidential.

Earlier this month, Motorola split into Motoral Mobility and Motorola Solutions.

The announcement comes on the heels of several recent settlement announcements from Wi-LAN, including Atheros Communications Inc. (ATHR), Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) and Intel Corp. (INTC).

Wi-LAN alleges infringement of several Wi-LAN patents that cover aspects of various wireless technologies, including Wifi, CDMA (code division multiple access), DSL (digital subscriber line) and bluetooth. The case is scheduled to begin Feb. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

In all, Wi-LAN has reached settlements with eight of the defendants. Nine remain, including Apple Corp. (AAPL), Dell Inc. (DELL) and Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ).

In Toronto Thursday, Wi-LAN is up 2.1% to C$6.78 on more than 2.3 million shares. Since the end of September, the stock is up almost 60%.

-By Stuart Weinberg; Dow Jones Newswires; 416-306-2026;

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