Vringo Alleges Infringement over Handsets, Base Stations and Base Station Controllers
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2012-- Vringo, Inc. (NYSE MKT: VRNG), a company engaged in the innovation, development and monetization of mobile technologies and intellectual property, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vringo Infrastructure, Inc., filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the UK subsidiary of ZTE Corporation (ZTE). ZTE describes itself as "a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions," with recently reported annual revenue of US $13.7 billion (RMB 86.254 billion), according to filings with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. According to ZTE's public filings, the company generates its revenue primarily from the sale of telecommunications equipment and handsets.
"The filing of this action in the United Kingdom is an initial step in Vringo's global licensing and enforcement program in the telecommunications sector. ZTE has elected not to take a license to patents in Vringo's portfolio relevant to certain international standards, despite manufacturing and selling devices and equipment for a number of years that are said by ZTE to be compliant with those standards," said David L. Cohen, Head of Licensing, Litigation, and Intellectual Property at Vringo. "We believe that ZTE is aware that it requires licenses to all patents that are essential to relevant standards. Further, we believe that ZTE is familiar with systems for declaring patents to standards-setting organizations and the relevant intellectual property rights policies for those organizations, having itself declared hundreds of patents to international standards."
The lawsuit, filed in the UK High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Patents Court, alleges infringement of European Patents (UK) 1,212,919; 1,166,589; and 1,808,029. Declarations have been filed at the European Telecommunications and Standards Institute (ETSI) that cover the patents. ZTE's cellular network elements fall within the scope of all three patents, and ZTE's GSM/UMTS multi-mode wireless handsets also fall within the scope of the '029 patent.
According to the complaint, Vringo is seeking a declaration that its patents have been infringed by ZTE's activities and that the court use its full legal, equitable and injunctive power to stop ZTE's activities as may be appropriate in the circumstances.
"ZTE's liability will continue to increase as long as the issue remains unresolved. We hope that ZTE will work with us to resolve this matter in a positive and productive manner," said Alexander R. Berger, Chief Operating Officer at Vringo.
