Khyber Technologies Corp. Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Major Electronic Organizer Manufacturers

Strategic Insights -

Boston-based company Khyber Technologies Corp. has filed a lawsuit against Casio, Everex Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Philips Electronics, and Uniden, alleging that their pocket-sized electronic organizers infringe a 1997 patent held by Khyber. The patent, United States Patent No. 5,696,496, covers devices with the ability to store and retrieve audio messages and messages entered through handwriting on the screen of the device. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants' products contain these infringing characteristics and seeks injunctive relief as well as damages.

Key Takeaways:

  • Khyber Technologies Corp. has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Casio, Everex Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Philips Electronics, and Uniden in Federal District Court in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • The lawsuit alleges that the defendants' products infringe at least eight claims of the Khyber patent, which covers pocket-sized organizers with audio message storage and retrieval capabilities.
  • Khyber is seeking injunctive relief and damages, with Counsel for Khyber stating that the company has carefully scrutinized the patent's validity and infringement.
  • The lawsuit highlights the growing competitiveness in the electronic organizer market, with Khyber's President Raj Kumar citing the company's years of research and development effort and the market's adoption of their technologies.
  • Khyber is developing its own product, the Pocket Partner unit, which is designed to serve as a wireless phone, organizer, and Internet appliance.
  • The global market for these devices is projected to continue its 43% compounded annual growth, reaching 25 million units and $13 billion in sales by the year 2002.

Statistics:

  • The lawsuit was filed on December 2, 1999, in Federal District Court in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • The Khyber patent, United States Patent No. 5,696,496, was issued on December 9, 1997.
  • The products alleged to infringe the Khyber patent are Casio's CASSIOPEIA, Everex Systems' FREESTYLE, Hewlett-Packard's JORNADA, Philips Electronics' NINO, and Uniden's UNIPRO.
  • The patent covers devices with the ability to store and non-sequentially retrieve audio messages and messages entered through handwriting on the screen of the device.
  • Khyber has requested injunctive relief as well as damages.
  • The global market for portable Internet appliances is projected to grow at a 43% compounded annual rate, reaching 25 million units and $13 billion in sales by the year 2002.

Sources:

  • Khyber Technologies Corp. press release, December 2, 1999.
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office, Patent No. 5,696,496, issued December 9, 1997.
  • Business Wire, "Khyber Technologies Corp. Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Major Electronic Organizer Manufacturers," December 2, 1999.