Tessera Extends Patent Talks Deadline with Motorola

Tessera Technologies has announced that it has extended its option agreement with Motorola that enables the firm to enter into a pre-negotiated license agreement with Tessera and settle all outstanding litigation between the companies. The option now runs through mid-February 2009. Other detailed terms of the agreements, including option fees, license fees and license royalties, are confidential.

Motorola is one of the respondents in Tessera's ongoing U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Investigation. On Dec. 1, 2008, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued an Initial Determination in this matter. Tessera and all respondents subsequently filed petitions asking the ITC Commissioners to review various aspects of the Initial Determination. Tessera is asking the Commissioners to review and overturn the ALJ's determination of non-infringement.

Under the current schedule, the ITC will announce by Jan. 30, 2009 if the Commissioners will review the Initial Determination. If they decide to review, the Commissioners can affirm, modify or reverse the Initial Determination, in whole or in part. The ITC is currently scheduled to issue a Final Determination in the Wireless ITC action by April 3, 2009.

The chip technology firm has been embroiled in a legal battle with Freescale Semiconductor, Qualcomm and Motorola - asking them to pay royalties for using its technology.

Posted to the site on 5th January 2009