OCTOBER 30, 2009 -- Tyco Electronics has taken a license to certain ADC patents directed to fiber-to-the-premises (FTTX) technology. The licensing agreement between the two fiber-optic connectivity companies settles existing litigation between them. ADC's patents relate to fiber distribution hubs, optical splitter modules, and fiber drop terminals that are deployed in the FTTX environment.
For ADC, the license provides acknowledgment of the company's FTTX patent portfolio by another industry leader in the FTTX market. "ADC has an industry standard license available to our FTTX portfolio," says Jaxon Lang, vice president, global connectivity solutions Americas for ADC. "With Tyco Electronics agreeing to take a license to ADC's portfolio, it provides recognition of the value of our portfolio by companies making fiber distribution hubs and fiber drop terminals for the FTTX market."
In its patent case, ADC alleged that Tyco Electronics infringed various ADC patents, including ADC's U.S. Patent Nos. 7,200,317 ("the '317 patent"), 7,233,731 ("the '731 patent"), and 7,407,330 ("the '330 patent"), which are directed to fiber distribution hubs; and ADC's U.S. Patent Nos. 7,397,997 ("the '997 patent") and 7,400,815 ("the '815 patent"), which are directed to fiber drop terminals. Tyco Electronics also asserted one of its patents, which was assigned to ADC as part of the settlement.