Wireless LAN manufacturer sued over patent dispute

June 1, 2001 Agere Systems, (www.lucent.com/micro) the partially-spun-off microelectronics manufacturing division of Lucent Technologies, has filed suit against wireless networking equipment maker Proxim (www.proxim.com) on three charges of alleged patent infringement.

No amount of monetary damages has been reported, but Agere says its suit is based on patents it claims to own for multi-rate wireless data communications systems, antenna apparatus, and tungsten metallization, which are reportedly used in Proxim wireless LAN products.

The suit comes on the heels of legal action filed by Proxim in March against several Agere customers, alleging infringement on its own proprietary wireless networking patents. Agere claims it has sought to negotiate cross-licensing agreements with Proxim, and its suit is seen as seeking compensation for intellectual property.