CommScope, Inc. has settled its patent infringement lawsuit against Ortronics, Inc.
The suit was settled recently in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
The suit is related to CommScope's US Patent No. 5,997,358, which is directed to electrical connectors that have improved crosstalk performance as a result of time-delayed, multi-stage crosstalk compensation. As a result of the settlement, the further sale of certain Ortronics Category 6 modular patch panels and Category 6 outlets (including at least the Clarity6 patch panels, Clarity6 TracJack outlets, and Clarity6 Series II outlet modules) will be licensed under a royalty-bearing arrangement.
CommScope Inc. representatives said in 2004 that they attempted to reach a licensing agreement with Ortronics Inc., but filed the patent infringement suit against the company after Ortronics would not enter discussions.
The remedies sought included an injunction barring further sale of certain Ortronics' Category 6 modular patch panels and Category 6 outlets, as well as damages for past infringement and treble damages for willful infringement.
Phil Armstrong, vice president of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications for CommScope, said the company was forced to file the suit when Ortronics representatives would not reach a license agreement with it.
Armstrong further stated that CommScope worked hard at creating the products that it says Ortronics infringed upon. It launched the suit to defend these products, he says.
Arlene Franchini, a spokeswoman for Ortronics, however, said CommScope did not give Ortronics the opportunity to discuss the suit prior to its being filed.
Ortronics Inc., based in New London, CT, manufactures Category 5e, Category 6 and optical fiber. For more information visit www.ortronics.com.
CommScope, based in Hickory, NC, manufacturers cable and connectivity solutions. For more information visit www.commscope.com.
