Posted by : bpburnwal on Sep 27, 2003 - 11:42 AM General

NEW YORK - Dell Computer Corp., the world's second-biggest maker of personal computers, sued Lucent Technologies Inc., claiming infringement of two patents for accessing data.
Lucent's AnyMedia, a switching system for telephone companies, is the target of the lawsuit. Dell wants cash compensation for what it claims is impermissible use of its patented technology and a court order halting sales of AnyMedia, which is used by Bell Canada and other companies to deliver a mix of telephone and Internet access on a single line.

"Dell has provided notice to Lucent of its infringing activities, which notice has been ignored," Dell said in the lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Sherman, Texas, near Dell's headquarters in Round Rock, Texas.

The lawsuit is the latest battle over patents between Lucent and Dell. Murray hill, New Jersey-based Lucent sued Dell in February, claiming the computer maker was infringing patents for color memory, video-search functions and for controlling a computer with a stylus.

Lucent's use of the technology infringes the patents and is responsible for others using the Dell technology without permission, Dell contends.

Microsoft Corp., which developed the software used by Dell and Gateway Computer Corp., has filed suit to invalidate the Lucent patents. Dell and Gateway, which also is being sued by Lucent, are demanding that Microsoft reimburse them for any damages incurred as a result of the Lucent suit.

Lucent spokesman John Skalko said the company had no comment on the lawsuit.

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