US: Rockstar abruptly settles patent dispute

The powerhouse group of patent-owning tech firms known as the Rockstar Consortium has reportedly resolved at least one of its conflicts with rival companies over patent infringement, say reports.

The Consortium, made up of Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Ericsson and BlackBerry, has reportedly dropped its patent infringement case against China-based telco Huawei, though the mutual decision to dismiss the case did not lead to a public settlement.

The Rockstar Consortium acquired $4.4 billion worth of Nortel technology patents in an auction which it then used to file infringement cases against Huawei and others last October. According to reports, the dispute sprouted when the Nortel patent portfolio was up for grabs in 2011 when the Canadian telco went bankrupt.

Among the competitors for the portfolio was Google, which eventually went on to acquire Motorola Mobility and its patents for $12.5 billion.

Rockstar also sued Google for patent infringement, a case that is still unresolved respite the apparent settlement with Huawei. Reports say the Consortium is suing Google for infringing upon seven patents regarding technology that relates Internet searches to advertisements.

Google has since fild a counterclaim against the group.

Full Content: CNET

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