3Com welcome to join Cisco-Huawei dispute

Three's a crowd?

By John Leyden • Get more from this author

Posted in Data Networking, 9th July 2003 14:22 GMT

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A US court has granted 3Com's motion to get involved in patent violation dispute between Cisco Systems and 3Com's joint venture partner Huawei.

3Com has welcomed US District Court Judge T. John Ward's ruling that it is "entitled to intervene" in the closely watched case, which centres on accusation by Cisco that Chinese vendor Huawei ripped off the California firm's patented technology. The schedule for the case will remain unaffected by 3Com's entry as a party in the dispute.

"We are pleased that the Court reviewed 3Com's motion to intervene and, over Cisco's objections, granted the motion," said Mark Michael, senior vice president and general counsel, 3Com.

3Com said Monday's ruling by the US Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Marshall allows 3Com to move forward with its joint venture partnership with Huawei, which is expected to become fully operational by the end of November.

3Com has begun shipping products from Huawei on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis. These products are "substantially different" from those in the dispute between Cisco and Huawei, according to 3Com.

In June, 3Com and Huawei asked Judge Ward to permit 3Com to sell Huawei equipment modified since its dispute with Cisco began in January and new products created under the joint venture between the two companies. These motions remain pending. ®