3M, Broadband Products settle patent lawsuit

January 28, 2009 -- 3M and Broadband Products, Inc. have reached a settlement of a lawsuit brought by 3M in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas regarding a patent dispute involving butt-splice connector products.

Trademarked by 3M as the "Scotchlok Connector," the insulation-displacement connector (IDC) or "U" connector was introduced by 3M for use by phone companies that needed an efficient splicing method for plastic-insulated copper wire. The IDC, developed by 3M inventors, reduced splicing to a single step. 3M Scotchlok connectors include butt, tap and inline connectors.

As part of the settlement, Broadband Products has agreed to stop importing, making, using, offering for sale and selling UY2-type and UR2-type butt-splice connectors. The remaining details of the settlement are confidential.


On the Web:
www.3M.com