Fractus Files Suit Against Cell Phone Manufacturers for Patent Infringement

Fractus is setting out to protect its intellectual property. The company has announced that it has filed suit against cell phone manufacturers Samsung, LG, RIM, Pantech, Kyocera, Palm, HTC, Sharp, UTStarcom (News - Alert), and Sanyo for allegedly infringing on nine different patents held by Fractus. 

Positioned as an early pioneer in the development of internal antennas for cellular phones and other industries, Fractus is fierce to protect its market standing. Since its founding in 1999, Fractus has set out to meet the challenge of delivering antennas small enough to fit inside a cell phone.

One of the challenges in this development has been to be sure that the antennas are not only small, but also are powerful enough to support today’s multiband cell phones. Fractus is an active supplier of antennas and has shipped millions throughout the world.

Fractus has received a number of awards and honors as a result of its innovative approach to the industry. The company has been named a 2005 Davos World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and one of Red Herring’s top innovative companies for 2006.

The company has also been honored by Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) when in 2004, it received the award for technological innovation. In 2007, Fractus received the Elektra European Electronics Industry R&D Award. In addition, the company holds more than 80 patents worldwide, including more than 30 United States patents.

“We are grateful that Fractus has chosen us to represent them in enforcing these patents,” said Max Tribble of Susman Godfrey L.L.P., lead lawyer for Fractus, in a statement.

“It is very brave of Fractus to fight against these cell phone companies, many of whom knew about Fractus and its technology yet still continued to infringe.  Fractus’s inventions have added tremendous value to both the cell phone user and manufacturer.”

IPotential, LLC, has been retained by Fractus as its licensing business advisor.

Fractus is represented by Max Tribble and Justin Nelson of Susman Godfrey L.L.P. and Michael Heim of Heim, Payne & Chorush, L.L.P.  The case was filed in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division, Case No. 6:09-cv-203.

This suit is important for Fractus in that the company needs to be able to protect its assets. These patents are what help the company to protect its opportunities within the market and a failure to file suit against patent infringements invites others to impede on the company’s patents. It is unclear as to what the outcome will be in this case, but the fact that it was filed at all is critical.