CSIRO wins WLAN Court Case in US

By November 15th, 2006

CSIRO has had an important win in a court case in the US in its battle to be paid royalties for its Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology. CSIRO was granted a US patent for this technology in 1996.

Yesterday, in the US Federal Court of the Eastern District of Texas, Judge Davis granted summary judgment in favour of CSIRO in regard to the patent’s validity. He also granted summary judgment that the defendant, Buffalo Technology, had infringed CSIRO’s patent.

CSIRO Chief Executive Geoff Garrett said “this is an important win because the Judge has supported CSIRO’s position comprehensively. We are obviously very pleased. However, it is only a brick in the wall – CSIRO still has a long way to go.”

“this is an important win because the Judge has supported CSIRO’s position comprehensively.”

CSIRO Chief Executive Geoff Garrett said

He said the market for WLAN products is large and growing, and many manufacturers are using CSIRO’s technology without permission or licence. As a consequence in February 2005, CSIRO filed a test case for patent infringement against Buffalo Technology and its Japanese parent.

Dr Garrett said that he hoped that the court would determine a reasonable royalty rate shortly.

Other court cases relating to CSIRO’s US WLAN patent are continuing.

Fast facts

  • CSIRO has had an important win in a court case in the US in its battle to be paid royalties for its Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology
  • CSIRO was granted a US patent for this technology in 1996
  • Other court cases relating to CSIRO’s US WLAN patent are continuing