SAN JOSE, Calif. -- December 8, 1998 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. announced today that it has won a summary judgement in a patent suit filed by Datapoint in New York, NY. The suit was filed against Cisco and a dozen other high-tech companies with the intent of applying old patents to new standards-based technology. The patents were asserted against Fast Ethernet technologies.
This judgement is a victory for Cisco and the high-tech industry. It reinforces the significant role open standards play in bringing new technology to the marketplace. Old patents can no longer be applied to new standard-based architecture or products, a practice that stymies innovation and competition.
"The global economy is being fueled by the New World," said Don Listwin, executive vice president, Cisco Systems. "Open, standard-based products and technology are at the core of the New World driving innovation and competition," he added.
Cisco was represented by Matthew Powers of the Silicon Valley office of Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP.
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