CB - I don't think there is a connection to Lomp's patents as it was disclosed to us as:
the function of which are aimed at improving the range, throughput and reliability of wireless LAN and other wireless technology systems.
old read on Lomp:
Ex-top tech officer sued by InterDigital
Philadelphia Business Journal
September 22, 2000
KING OF PRUSSIA - InterDigital Communications Corp., a developer of wireless technologies, has filed a lawsuit against its former chief technology officer and an outside recruiter, alleging they breached their noncompete contracts and conspired to hire away the firm's senior employees.
InterDigital seeks injunctive relief, and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages against defendants Gary R. Lomp, the former CTO, and Robert DeFilippo, a recruiter for the Collegeville recruiting firm InterDigitial hired.
Lomp formed LayerOne Wireless Technology Inc. shortly after leaving InterDigital last October, according to the lawsuit. Lomp spent seven years in senior executive positions at InterDigital. The suit said that after leaving, Lomp hired DeFilippo, a staffing account manager for T. Williams Consulting Inc., hoping to lure a "hit list" of InterDigital's senior employees.
InterDigital hired T. Williams in 1998, and DeFilippo worked out of the wireless firm's Melville, N.Y., office three to four days a week for the next year, the suit said. That gave him access to InterDigital's inner workings and trade secrets, it said.
Following his resignation, Lomp allegedly announced LayerOne's intention to compete head-on with InterDigital, pursuing the markets and developing similar technology. InterDigital said the secrecy surrounding its technology helps it keep a competitive advantage. Lomp's insider knowledge of the firm's products, operations and financial workings would compromise that advantage, InterDigital said.
DeFilippo allegedly targeted at least four InterDigital employees to join LayerOne. Taking former employees and secrets with him, Lomp threatens to undermine InterDigital's business strategy, the suit alleges.
"Lomp will inevitably disclose IDC's trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information in starting his venture," the document said.
The employees targeted by Lomp allegedly included two senior software engineers, a manager for software engineering and a staff software engi neer.
Lomp and DeFilippo's lawyers did not return repeated phone calls.
InterDigital develops and licenses integrated circuitry, software and what's known as system-on-a-chip technology using wireless telecommunications standards. The company's agreement with Nokia to develop Internet access technology for mobile phones accounts for 60 percent of its sales. InterDigital also licenses its technology to NEC and Siemens.
According to its suit, Lomp had worked for wireless firm SCS Telecom Inc., but in 1992, InterDigital bought it and SCS Mobilcom Inc. Lomp worked with SCS Telecom since 1987 as one of its principal inventors and technologists. He became vice president of research and development for InterDigital, continuing his role as key inventor and technology developer. His employment agreement, dated Oct. 15, 1992, contained a noncompete clause, the suit said.
When Lomp resigned from InterDigital on Oct. 7, 1999, he'd spent more than a year as InterDigital's executive vice president and chief technology officer.
Lomp worked as InterDigital's general manager in Melville between 1994 and June 1998. According to documents, he built up the company's New York office by recruiting employees to develop the firm's wireless technology and for daily management of the office. He reported to InterDigital's senior management in Pennsylvania. In that time, Lomp increased the Melville staff from fewer than 20 to more than 100 employees.
Lomp also helped devise InterDigital's advanced products using wideband technology, developed in conjunction with Siemens AG and others.
The suit was filed in mid-August. Earlier this month, LayerOne's lawyers succeeded in getting the suit moved from the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas to the U.S. District Court, based on the argument that Lomp lives in Centerport, N.Y.
Interdigital reported a $1.2 million loss in the second quarter compared to a profit of $1.4 million, or 3 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. Second-quarter revenues fell $700,000, from $12.3 million last year to $11.6 million this year. The company said the results reflected an increase in spending on engineering and other items.
Last year, InterDigital stopped making the wireless basic phone systems it designed for use in rural areas. It now focuses entirely on developing microchips and software to enable voice and data transmissions in mobile phones and portable computing products.
AI
