Intel has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against a SoftBank Group-owned investment firm, Fortress Investment Group for patent antitrust.
Intel alleges that the SoftBank Group-owned investment firm stockpiles patents to use in litigation against technology companies.
According to the lawsuit, Intel reportedly said that Fortress Investment Group acquired control of more than 1,000 US technology patents.
Intel reportedly said that “rather than promote the progress of science and useful arts, patent assertion entities aggressively pursue meritless litigation have long been recognized to harm and deter innovation having Fortress has a central player in this emerging strategy”.
“Fortress has used its stable of PAEs to aggregate a massive portfolio of patents that purportedly read on high-tech consumer and enterprise electronic devices and components or software used to manufacture them” Intel reportedly said.
Intel alleges that Fortress has created a web of entities that obscures Fortress’s puppeteering role in this scheme and seek to monetize meritless patents.
Intel reportedly said the lawsuit was filed to end a campaign of anticompetitive patent aggregation.
Intel asked the court for damages and to declare all licensing agreements obtained by Fortress, which violate US antitrust laws, as void.
The Case is ongoing.
Intel Corporation v. Fortress Investment Group LLC et al
| Judge: | Jacqueline Scott Corley |
| Court: | California Northern District Court |
| Case #: | 5:19-cv-06856 |
| Nature of Suit: | Antitrust |
| Cause: | Antitrust Litigation |
| Case Filed: | October 21, 2019 |
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