Qualcomm Files Suit Against Broadcom, Citing Patent Infringement
obile wireless communications technology provider Qualcomm Inc. said Monday it has filed suit against Broadcom Corp. in federal court in San Diego for infringement of seven of Qualcomm’s patents.
Broadcom, which describes itself as a maker of wired and wireless broadband communications semiconductors, did not have an immediate comment on its Web site.
According to its Web site, Broadcom last Tuesday filed its own suit against Qualcomm alleging that Qualcomm's licensing and other practices related to cellular technology and products violated U.S. antitrust laws.
Qualcomm said its suit filed Monday asserts Broadcom's infringement of patents that are “essential” to the manufacture or use of equipment that complies with various cellular standards and to certain standards for wireless local area networks, better known as Wi-Fi.
The company said it is seeking an injunction against Broadcom’s continued manufacture and sale of these products as well as monetary damages.
Qualcomm makes satellite- and cellular-based communications systems for the trucking industry as well as trailer-tracking and hours-of-service tracking software systems.
“Our complaint, based upon our initial review of Broadcom's business, discloses that a number of Broadcom's major product lines infringe Qualcomm’s patents,” Louis Lupin, Qualcomm’s general counsel, said in a statement.
