Siemens pleads for better OEM treatment of patent

Siemens Nixdorf has sent letters to 70 European OEMs, asking them not to infringe on its patent in order to protect its own technology.

According to a Siemens representative, the manufacturer has been forced to issue the letter for patent number 0624272, after concerns mounted about the safety of third-party monitors.

She said: 'We have sent a letter to various European competitors, asking them to set up negotiations with us to ensure they do not infringe on our protected Siemens patent. The patent relates to low power modes for monitors. It dates from 1995 and is valid in 10 European countries.'

But Keith Warburton, executive director of the Personal Computer Association, said members were angry at the move. He said some had received the letter from Siemens and did not welcome the idea of paying licence fees for a system which they thought is part of the normal Bios in PCs.

But Siemens has defended its position, insisting that it was not seeking damages from smaller companies. A representative pointed out that the company was talking to a number of manufacturers, ranging from small firms to larger sized companies.

The representative said Siemens Nixdorf would not be taking legal action against any of the companies it had contacted.