Barnes & Noble, Inc. (BKS)

[Seminole Red]

DJ Barnes & Noble Settles Patent Suit Over Nook E-Reader



DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) said it settled a lawsuit over its Nook e-reader filed by Spring Design Inc., maker of the Alex e-reader, ending more than a year of litigation.

Financial terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.

The court challenge filed in November 2009 claimed Barnes & Noble had illegally copied a screen design from Spring Design's Alex eReader. The bookseller filed for dismissal but was rebuffed last December in U.S. district court.

Under the agreement, Spring Design granted Barnes & Noble a non-exclusive, royalty-free license for the entire portfolio of Spring Design's portfolio. Barnes & Noble said the deal resolves all of the design firm's claims, dismissing them with prejudice.

Shares of Barnes & Noble were down 5 cents at $12.65 Wednesday morning.

-By Drew FitzGerald, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2909; [e-mail]