Hitachi Ltd, which makes everything from computer chips to nuclear power plants, settled lawsuits filed against Tatung Co (大同) and Proview Electronics Co (唯冠電子) for infringing three of its patents for personal computer monitors.
The settlement would "have a positive impact" on Tatung's operation and monitor sales, Tatung vice general manager Jack Wang (
Such patent lawsuits are common between technology firms and this settlement would benefit both parties, Wang said, refusing to comment further.
Tatung, the nation's leading home-appliance and industrial motor maker, mainly produces computer monitors on a contract basis for European and US clientele. The company is the parent of Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd (
Hitachi sued Tatung and Proview Electronics in June last year, saying years of licensing talks had failed. A third lawsuit, against Taiwan's Amtran Technology Co (
"They settled and Proview can continue to make its products without concern for those patents," said Sean DeBruine, a lawyer for Proview with Akin Gump in East Palo Alto, California.
Hong Kong-listed Proview International Holdings Ltd makes flat-panel displays for Japan's Fujitsu Ltd and Taiwan's Acer Inc.
Amtran Technology, a maker of cathode-ray-tube and liquid-crystal-display monitors, said that the negotiation was still ongoing as both parties were working toward a consensus on royalty payment.
"The dispute started as early as 2002 as we couldn't reach an agreement on royalty payment. But we hope to close the chapter -- hopefully by the third quarter," said Jessie Lee (
The suits demanded that the companies either pay royalties or stop selling the computer monitors. Hitachi's agreement with Proview was reached in January and with Tatung on April 19, according to court documents. Details of the settlements weren't provided in court documents.
Stock of Tatung rose by 1.2 percent to close at NT$9.24 on the Taiwan Stock Exchange yesterday.
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