News Article
GigOptix bites back at MACOM patent allegations
GigOptix will be filing a response with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in accordance with applicable rules
GigOptix, a supplier of semiconductor and optical communications components, says it has it has reviewed the complaint for patent infringement filed against it by M/A-COM Technology Solutions (MACOM).
In its review of the complaint filed by MACOM, GigOptix notes that the complaint references a December 2008 lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California entitled Pacific Wave Industries, Inc. v. University of Southern California which named GigOptix’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Lumera Corporation as a defendant.
According to GigOptix, neither Lumera nor GigOptix had any knowledge of this earlier lawsuit, and records of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California contain no proof of service of the lawsuit on Lumera, but do contain a filing by plaintiff Pacific Wave Industries stating that it had not served Lumera.
Shortly after making that filing, in June 2009, plaintiff Pacific Wave Industries dismissed Lumera as a defendant and also dismissed the entirety of the lawsuit.
According to the records of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Pacific Wave Industries executed on August 10th 2013, a written assignment to MACOM of the two patents at issue in the MACOM complaint, just as the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California was continuing from August 26th, 2013 to September 23rd, 2013 for administrative reasons the trial date in the lawsuit brought by GigOptix against MACOM, its subsidiary Optomai, Inc., and three of GigOptix’ former employees for misappropriation of confidential information and trade secrets and breach of the contractual and legal obligations to GigOptix of the former employees, and while certain of the individuals named as defendants by GigOptix are being investigated also by the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Northern District of California.
GigOptix does not believe that Pacific Wave Industries ever developed products practicing the claims in the two patents, and is unaware of MACOM having any such or related developments or products in the marketplace, more so during the few weeks since its assignment.
In light of MACOM’s assertion that it has made an “investment in innovation”, GigOptix expects that there will be discovery regarding MACOM’s intention in acquiring these two patents and the contribution of them to the enrichment of its “innovation” portfolio.
GigOptix will continue to review the two patents at issue in the complaint filed by MACOM. However, while GigOptix is continuing its investigation, and recognising that the outcome is not presently known, in light of the initial discovered facts, the claims and the products, GigOptix doesn’t believe that MACOM’s actions will have any material impact on GigOptix’ financial position.
GigOptix is a fabless supplier of semiconductor and optical components that enable high-speed end-to-end information streaming over the network and address emerging high-growth opportunities in the communications, industrial, defense and avionics industries.
In its review of the complaint filed by MACOM, GigOptix notes that the complaint references a December 2008 lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California entitled Pacific Wave Industries, Inc. v. University of Southern California which named GigOptix’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Lumera Corporation as a defendant.
According to GigOptix, neither Lumera nor GigOptix had any knowledge of this earlier lawsuit, and records of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California contain no proof of service of the lawsuit on Lumera, but do contain a filing by plaintiff Pacific Wave Industries stating that it had not served Lumera.
Shortly after making that filing, in June 2009, plaintiff Pacific Wave Industries dismissed Lumera as a defendant and also dismissed the entirety of the lawsuit.
According to the records of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Pacific Wave Industries executed on August 10th 2013, a written assignment to MACOM of the two patents at issue in the MACOM complaint, just as the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California was continuing from August 26th, 2013 to September 23rd, 2013 for administrative reasons the trial date in the lawsuit brought by GigOptix against MACOM, its subsidiary Optomai, Inc., and three of GigOptix’ former employees for misappropriation of confidential information and trade secrets and breach of the contractual and legal obligations to GigOptix of the former employees, and while certain of the individuals named as defendants by GigOptix are being investigated also by the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Northern District of California.
GigOptix does not believe that Pacific Wave Industries ever developed products practicing the claims in the two patents, and is unaware of MACOM having any such or related developments or products in the marketplace, more so during the few weeks since its assignment.
In light of MACOM’s assertion that it has made an “investment in innovation”, GigOptix expects that there will be discovery regarding MACOM’s intention in acquiring these two patents and the contribution of them to the enrichment of its “innovation” portfolio.
GigOptix will continue to review the two patents at issue in the complaint filed by MACOM. However, while GigOptix is continuing its investigation, and recognising that the outcome is not presently known, in light of the initial discovered facts, the claims and the products, GigOptix doesn’t believe that MACOM’s actions will have any material impact on GigOptix’ financial position.
GigOptix is a fabless supplier of semiconductor and optical components that enable high-speed end-to-end information streaming over the network and address emerging high-growth opportunities in the communications, industrial, defense and avionics industries.
