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SUFFERN, NY, February 25, 2003 — General Patent Corporation
International (GPCI), a leading patent licensing and enforcement
firm, has scored another important victory in its campaign
to enforce a portfolio of four “smart connector”
patents owned by its subsidiary, Acticon Technologies
LLC (Acticon). GPCI announced today that Acticon has recently
brought to a successful conclusion its lawsuit against
Psion, Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Psion
PLC of London (LSE:PON.L). Following the Court’s
decision on certain key motions in favor of Acticon, Psion
agreed to license the Acticon patents. The Court then
entered judgment declaring the Acticon patents valid,
enforceable and infringed.
Acticon brought suit against Psion in March of 2002,
in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District
of New York. Shortly thereafter, Psion moved for summary
judgment, alleging that it was a third-party beneficiary
under a license agreement between GPCI and Conexant,
Inc., the supplier of modem chipsets incorporated in
the Psion products. The Court denied Psion’s motion,
and granted Acticon’s cross-motion to strike Psion’s
affirmative defense.
Following this decisive ruling, Psion admitted its
infringement and agreed to take a license under the
Acticon patents, paying Acticon’s standard 4% royalty
for both past and future sales.
“We are very happy with this outcome,” said
Paul Lerner, Sr. Vice President and General Counsel
for GPCI, “especially so, because the Court has
put to rest the notion that incorporating Conexant modem
chipsets confers a license on a PC card product utilizing
such a chipset,” he added.
Acticon’s “smart connector” patents
cover specific aspects of PC cards and other “smart
connector” devices used in mobile computer communication,
networking and instrumentation control. Well over 90%
of the PC cards sold in the United States today are
licensed under the Acticon patents. GPCI has successfully
represented Acticon in 62 licensing transactions and
seventeen litigations.
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