Intel settles WiLAN lawsuit

CHIPMAKER Intel has settled with WiLAN in a court case that claimed it infringed a string of wireless and Internet patents.

According to Reuters, WiLAN now plans go to after Intel's co-defendants, the fruit themed maker of Ithings, Apple, the grey box shifter, Dell, and the maker of expensive printer ink, HP.

Chipzilla has agreed to make a series of payments on a multi-year license of WiLAN's entire patent portfolio. No one has said how many zeros were on the cheque that Intel had to write to make WiLAN go away.

Alexander Poltorak, CEO of General Patent Corp, a patent advisory firm, told Reuters that the amount Intel paid was likely substantial.

With Intel down it is fairly likely that Apple, Dell and HP will also come up with similar agreements.

The case has been in the courts since October 2007. Initially WiLAN claimed infringement of its wireless patents. Later it added something connected to Bluetooth.

Last year WiLAN also decided to target Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, claiming that their cable systems and modems infringe its patents. µ