Post by Segaman on Jul 15, 2004 18:35:16 GMT -5
Magnequench International today filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and Phillips, claiming patent infringement for the use magnetic materials found in Xbox DVD drives. The firm alleges that it has patents for neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) magnets used for miniaturization, which are purportedly found in the DVD-ROMs manufactured by Phillips for Microsoft's gaming console.
"Since we filed our original suit, we have had many good and positive discussions with manufacturers and retailers who indicate they are taking steps to better police their supply chains. The defendants have told us they are opposed to infringing our patents and are willing to work with us. In fact, already many of our customers have told us they are regaining business they had once lost to infringing materials due in large part to pressure applied by some defendants," said Archibald Cox, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Magnequench. "The unfortunate fact is that illicit magnets and magnetic powders are still finding their way into popular electronics products in the U.S."
The Nd-Fe-B magnets are a roughly $2 billion dollar market--Magnequench suspects that up to 20 percent of the Nd-Fe-B magnets produced annually infringe upon their patents.
"Since we filed our original suit, we have had many good and positive discussions with manufacturers and retailers who indicate they are taking steps to better police their supply chains. The defendants have told us they are opposed to infringing our patents and are willing to work with us. In fact, already many of our customers have told us they are regaining business they had once lost to infringing materials due in large part to pressure applied by some defendants," said Archibald Cox, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Magnequench. "The unfortunate fact is that illicit magnets and magnetic powders are still finding their way into popular electronics products in the U.S."
The Nd-Fe-B magnets are a roughly $2 billion dollar market--Magnequench suspects that up to 20 percent of the Nd-Fe-B magnets produced annually infringe upon their patents.
