Ericsson sues Samsung for patent infringement

[November 27, 2012]  STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Swedish wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson has filed a lawsuit in the United States against Samsung Electronics Co. for infringing its patents, saying two years of negotiations to strike a deal with the South Korean company have been unsuccessful.

Ericsson says the lawsuit concerns technology it has developed that is "essential to several telecommunications and networking standards" in Samsung's products.

The technologies can be used by other companies in exchange for a fee, but in this case, Ericsson says Samsung has refused to sign a license agreement despite two years of talks.

It said Tuesday the sharing of technology is essential for the industry, but that companies need to be incentivized to contribute. It says "the industry's eco-system functions on mutual respect and shared commercial interests."

[Associated Press]

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