WASHINGTON – Microsoft Corp. says French telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent infringed on its patents for “unified communications” products, and the U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday voted to begin an investigation.
“The systems and products at issue in this investigation integrate the features of data networks and traditional telephone networks, allowing the user to configure communications options in multiple ways from a single interface, such as a computer display,” according to the ITC.
The ITC is an independent federal agency that performs economic research on trade agreements and investigates unfair trade practices. The agency can bar imports of products that infringe U.S. patents and trademarks.
The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant, which filed the complaint on Feb. 16, is asking the ITC to bar Alcatel-Lucent from importing products that it says infringes on patents for three of its “unified communications technologies:” Microsoft Communicator, Communications Server and Exchange Server.
“We’re pleased the ITC has agreed to review the case and we have made repeated efforts to make sure Alcatel-Lucent respects and acknowledges our patented innovations,” Microsoft spokesman Jack Evans said.
“We will vigorously contest these claims,” said Mary Lou Ambrus, a spokeswoman for Alcatel-Lucent.
In a separate case, a federal jury last month ruled that Microsoft infringed on two MP3 patents from Alcatel-Lucent and must pay $1.52 billion in damages, although Microsoft plans to appeal that decision.
The new case has been referred to the Honorable Paul J. Luckern, an ITC administrative law judge, who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. Within 45 days of the investigation’s inception, the ITC will set a target date for its completion.
Shares of Microsoft added 6 cents to $27.90 in aftermarket activity after gaining a penny to close at $27.84 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, while shares of Alcatel-Lucent dipped 9 cents after-hours after adding 11 cents to end at $11.96 on the New York Stock Exchange.