Feisty Wi-LAN sues Apple over LTE patents

Since the launch of the iPhone, in 2007, Apple has become the most sued technology company in the world. Wi-LAN (TSX:WIN) yesterday announced it had launched five separate litigations claiming patent infringement against three companies; Apple Inc., HTC Corp. and Sierra Wireless America.

Three of the suits, says the company, have been filed in the southern district of Florida against Apple, HTC and Sierra Wireless, and claim infringement of Wi-LAN’s U.S. patent Nos. 8,315,640 and 8,311,040, which are related to long-term evolution technologies.

The other two suits, filed in Texas against Sierra Wireless and Apple, claim infringement of Wi-LAN’s U.S. patent No. 6,381,211 related to 3G HSPA handset products.

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Ottawa’s Wi-LAN has quietly become one of the world’s top patent acquirers, its pace is now on par or better than Apple, Google and Samsung. The company is now no stranger to patent infringement claims, having launched actions against dozens of multinationals, including Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Sony and Toshiba. Calculating the number of patents the company holds has become something of a moving target, because they keep adding more.

On October 1st, Wi-LAN acquired than 150 patents from broadband solutions provider Alvarion Ltd. (NASDAQ:ALVR) for $19 million. Byron Capital analyst Tom Astle says the company in the top five of all 4G patent holders worldwide.

Since the release of the iPhone, in 2007, Apple has become the most sued technology company in the world.

At press time, shares of Wi-LAN were up .4% to $4.93.

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