Elonex sues over patent infringement

Elonex is suing Dell, Packard Bell/NEC and Micron Electronics, claiming patent infringement in three cases, furthering the company's view that its patents will have to be licensed or disputed by most hardware vendors.

According to papers filed in the US District Court in Delaware, the UK PC vendor has claimed infringement of two of its patents for making computer monitor standby systems, which automatically reduce power when the computer is not being used.

Elonex claimed that since colour monitors have the heaviest power usage of any computer system, temporary power reduction constitutes a significant benefit.

Michael Spiro, financial director at Elonex, told PC Dealer: 'We are seeking reasonable royalties from these vendors, as stated in US law. We want what we are entitled to.'

He would not comment further on the details of the lawsuits, but added: 'We strongly believe in our case, which is why we have an active technology licensing programme.'

The lawsuit was the latest in a string of legal battles Elonex has fought recently to protect its technology, which has concentrated on reducing the power consumption of PCs and peripheral equipment.

In April, the company licensed its power management technology to Hitachi Japan in a deal that was perceived as strengthening Elonex's negotiating position with leading PC vendors (PC Dealer, 8 April).

Two years earlier, Elonex forced computer giant Hewlett Packard to license the same technology.

In October, the vendor filed a lawsuit in Munich to invalidate a Siemens European patent for similar technology, claiming Elonex invented it first.

Spiro added that this particular case was ongoing.