DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
ITT Corp. (ITT) filed suit against several wireless phone companies, including a partnership involving Verizon Wireless, alleging the companies infringed upon a global positioning system patent.
The company said Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group PLC (VOD), continues to infringe on the patent by selling cellphones adapted to operate with assisted GPS technology and by providing services including support for GPS. ITT said it has notified Verizon Wireless of the patent.
The company also said Verizon Wireless has induced other companies to violate the patent by encouraging them to sell GPS phones and provide a cellular network that supports GPS operations.
Other defendants in the patent-infringement case include LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE); Motorola Inc. (MOT); Kyocera Corp. (KYO); Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM); and Nokia Corp. (NOK).
ITT settled patent-infringement claims several years ago against other wireless companies in disputes concerning assisted GPS technology.
The company is demanding a permanent injunction against the defendants to prevent them from infringing on the patent further, except where needed to support 911 calls.
Verizon Wireless declined to comment, while a Motorola spokesman said, "We do not think we're in the wrong and we'll defend ourselves vigorously." The rest couldn't be reached for comment.
ITT's shares were recently up 13 cents at $39.29, while Verizon lost 3 cents to $30.48.
-By Kerry E. Grace, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5089;
kerry.grace@dowjones.com
This could mean a few things. We may actually be the lucky ones if VZW decides to just pull the GPS chips out altogether and redo their thinking.