Sprint Nextel Corp. settled a patent-infringement lawsuit against two Voice Over Internet Protocol providers that have now entered into licensing agreements with Sprint Nextel.
Sprint Nextel had sued tglo.com Inc. (formerly VoiceGlo Holdings Inc.) and Theglobe.com Inc. in October 2005 for alleged violations of seven VoIP-related patents held by the telecom company. As part of the settlement of that case, the tglo.com and Theglobe.com entered into a non-exclusive license under Sprint Nextel’s patents; additional terms of the settlement were not released.
“Sprint considers the settlement a significant achievement for its patent portfolio,” said Harley Ball, Sprint Nextel’s vice president of intellectual property, in a company statement. Ball added that Sprint Nextel has “more than 100 patents covering different methods, components and systems employing VoIP and other technologies.”
Ed Cespedes, president of theglobe.com and treasurer of tglo.com, said in a prepared statement that the settlement “will not materially impact any ongoing or future operations” of the two companies.
