July 27, 2007 -- Draka Comteq America, Inc., a joint venture of Alcatel-Lucent and Draka Holding NV and a manufacturer of optical fiber, fiber-optic cables, and copper communications cables, announced that it has now received and is in the process of reviewing documents relating to the lawsuit for alleged patent infringement filed against it in North Carolina Federal Court by Furukawa Electric North America (FENA), owner of OFS Fitel.
"Draka Comteq America's is an industry leader in the area of developing relevant intellectual property and as such, we take our position surrounding intellectual property, as well as our obligations as good corporate citizens, very seriously," stated Jacques Blanc, chief operating officer for Draka Comteq America. "We are reviewing the papers served by Furukawa Electric North America with our technical people and our attorneys, and are confident that Draka Comteq America's will be found to be blameless in this proceeding. Many of our customers have already reconfirmed their commitment to working with us and our products notwithstanding this lawsuit."
Draka Comteq America's formal response to the complaint is due by August 16, 2007.
"We are also studying products of OFS Fitel which we believe may violate patent rights of Draka Comteq America's, and may have to assert appropriate claims against FENA and its subsidiaries and related companies," concluded Blanc.
