[Ecommerce] ITC Investigates Possible Patent Infringement

[James Love]

Apparently the US International Trade Commission now enforces patents. 
I didn't realize this.  Jamie


October 10, 2000

 Geoworks:ITC Investigates Possible Patent Infringement

 Dow Jones Newswires

 ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Geoworks Corp. (GWRX) said the U.S. International
Trade Commission is investigating whether Phone.com Inc. (PHCM), Sanyo
Electric Co. Ltd. (SANYY) and Sanyo North America Corp. violate
Geoworks' flexible user interface patent rights.

Phone.com, Sanyo Electric and Sanyo North America weren't immediately
available to comment.

In a press release Tuesday, Geoworks said the government agency could
issue exclusion orders that directs the U.S. Customs Service to stop all
further importation of Sanyo's wireless application protocol, or WAP,
cell phones that contain Phone.com's UP.Browser.

The agency, which typically issues a final judgment in 12 months
following a probe's initiation, may also issue cease and desist orders
prohibiting Sanyo and Phone.com from selling their domestic inventories
of imported WAP cell phones and components.

Phone.com in April sued Geoworks, seeking a declaration that a patent
held by the mobile communications company is invalid and isn't being
infringed upon by Phone.com.

   [snip]


-- 
James Love  mailto:love@cptech.org http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
voice 1.202.387.8030  fax  1.202.234.5176