General Patent Corporation Secures Settlement with U.S. Government in Patent Lawsuit in the Court of Claims

SUFFERN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--General Patent Corporation (GPC), a leading patent licensing and enforcement firm, announced today on behalf of its subsidiary, Leighton Technologies LLC (Leighton), that it reached a settlement with the U.S. government in a lawsuit in the Court of Claims over unlicensed use of Leighton’s portfolio of six “Contactless Cards” and related patents.

“Hot lamination process for the manufacture of a combination contact/contactless smart card and product resulting therefrom”

The settlement with the federal government is an outcome of a lawsuit, Leighton Technologies LLC v. United States of America, U.S. Court of Federal Claims (1:10-cv-00003), filed by GPC on behalf of Leighton Technologies in January of 2010. In the lawsuit, Leighton Technologies asserted that the federal government engaged in unlicensed use and manufacture of ID cards issued to employees at 54 federal agencies including the Department of Defense, Federal Reserve Board and General Services Administration, as well as e-Passports and other contactless technology. The federal government ultimately decided to settle the lawsuit and take a license for the patents.

“We are pleased to reach a settlement with the federal government,” said Alexander Poltorak, Chairman and CEO of General Patent Corporation. “This license will ensure availability of this patented technology – which is vital to national security – to the federal government and its agencies.”

“Federal law provides a cause of action for patent infringement against the United States whenever, without a license, the government uses or manufactures a patented process or product. However, the patent owner must sue the government in the United States Court of Claims in Washington, D.C.” explained Anthony Amaral, Chief IP counsel of General Patent Corporation.

About General Patent Corporation

General Patent Corporation, headquartered in Suffern, N.Y., is a leading intellectual property boutique focusing on patent licensing and enforcement. GPC represents inventors, businesses, universities and other patent owners in patent assertion matters by managing and financing patent litigation on a contingency basis. GPC is the oldest patent enforcement firm in the U.S. GPC is the managing member of Leighton Technologies LLC. For more information, visit www.generalpatent.com.

About Leighton Technologies LLC

Leighton Technologies LLC is the owner of six “Contactless Cards” and related U.S. Patents:

1. 5,817,207: “Radio frequency identification card and hot lamination process for the manufacture of radio frequency identification cards”

2. 6,036,099: “Hot lamination process for the manufacture of a combination contact/contactless smart card and product resulting therefrom”

3. 6,214,155: “Radio frequency identification card and hot lamination process for the manufacture of radio frequency identification cards”

4. 6,441,736: “Ultra-thin flexible durable radio frequency identification devices and hot or cold lamination process for the manufacture of ultra-thin flexible durable radio frequency identification devices”

5. 6,557,766: “Hot lamination method for a hybrid radio frequency optical memory card converting sheets into a web process”

6. 6,514,367: “Hot lamination process for the manufacture of a combination contact/contactless smart card”

Leighton Technologies is a portfolio company of IP Holdings LLC, and is managed by General Patent Corporation. A non-exclusive license under these patents is available on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. For licensing terms, please contact Kathlene Ingham at (845) 368-4000 x107. For more information, please visit www.leighton-tech.com.

About IP Holdings LLC

IP Holdings LLC, a member of the GPC Group of Companies, is an IP-centric merchant banking organization. IP Holdings provides IP advisory services, IP-related financial services and IP brokerage, and operates an IP incubator. IP Holdings is a member of Leighton Technologies. For more information, visit www.ip-holdings.com.

Release Summary:

General Patent Corporation settles a patent lawsuit filed against the federal government on behalf of its subsidiary, Leighton Technologies LLC, in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for the use of ID cards issued to federal employees and contractors, with the U.S. Government taking a license for the Leighton patent portfolio.

Keyword Tags:

patent, patent licensing, assertive licensing, patent assertion, patent enforcement, patent litigation, patent infringement, patent infringement lawsuit, intellectual property, IP, General Patent, General Patent Corporation, GPC, contactless cards, smart cards, e-passport, Leighton, Leighton technologies, court of federal claims, court of claims