LUND, Sweden, Nov. 1, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- A Federal District Court in the United States has declared that Anoto's technology is not infringing a U.S. patent in the area of digital pens and paper. Additionally, the court declared that the U.S. patent is invalid.
Anoto in July 2003 filed a complaint against a patent holder in the United States, claiming that the patentee had tortuously interfered with Anoto's partners by alleging that Anoto's technology was infringing the patent in question. Anoto therefore filed a lawsuit seeking a declaration that its technology does not infringe the patent and that the patent is invalid.
The court has now ruled in favor of Anoto on both counts. It is yet not clear if the patent holder is going to appeal.
"This is a success for us. The concept digital pen and paper has been known since the 80's, thus making it impossible for anyone to block the concept itself. However, Anoto has built a very robust technology and a patent portfolio comprising over 300 patent applications based on over 100 innovations, which, in our opinion would make it difficult or very difficult to launch a similar technology without infringing Anoto patents. That in combination with the fact that we are the only company having launched a commercially available and viable technology puts us in a strong position. A telling argument is Anoto's highly powerful partner network encompassing world-leading companies such as HP, Hitachi, Logitech, Nokia, and Maxell, all of which have licensed their technology for digital pens and digital paper from Anoto," says Anders Tormod, CEO, Anoto Group AB.
"Having to take matters to court is always unfortunate, but we must always, if required, defend our position," concludes Anders Tormod.
For more information Anders Tormod CEO Anoto Group AB +46 733 47 86 37
Anoto Group AB is a Swedish hi-tech company with unique solutions for transmission of handwritten text from paper to digital media and scanning of printed text. All products are based on digital camera technology and image processing in real time. The Anoto Group today has two brand names: Anoto(r) -- a comprehensive solution entailing paper, pen and server technologies, allowing us to connect all types of writing paper with the digital world and C-Pen(r) -- a scanning pen that can store, interpret and transfer printed text. The Anoto Group has around 110 employees, offices in Lund (head office), Stockholm, Boston, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Major shareholders are Ericsson, Capital Group and Logitech International S/A. The Anoto share is traded on the O-list, Attract 40 of Stockholmsborsen (Stockholm Stock Exchange) under the ticker ANOT. For more information: www.anotogroup.com
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