TomTom Contests Microsoft Patent Suit

Yesterday afternoon and this morning, reports did the rounds about Microsoft’s patent suit against satnav maker, TomTom. While the company said it was open to settling the suit with a licensing agreement, TomTom is contesting the suit.

Microsoft Corp. yesterday filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the GPS maker claiming the company’s products infringed on eight patents owned by Microsoft. Five of those in dispute relate to in-car navigation technologies, while the other three patents involve file-management techniques.

Microsoft Deputy General of Intellectual Property and Licensing, Horacio Gutierrez, said yesterday that the company has reached licensing agreements with other satnav vendors regarding the same patents, and maintained that the company is open to "quickly resolving" the TomTom dispute through licensing. However, Reuters this afternoon reports that the Dutch company denies infringing on any patents.

"We reject the claim and will vigorously defend ourselves," TomTom spokesman Taco Titulaer said, adding that Microsoft sent a letter to TomTom's U.S. office informing it of the action.

Microsoft said in an official statement yesterday that the company had been attempting to engage in licensing discussions with TomTom for more than a year.

Check out this morning’s story by clicking here.