Cicso Systems vs Huawei Technologies :: Lawsuit Law Intellectual Property Essays

Cicso Systems vs Huawei Technologies I. cisco Systems files lawsuit against Huawei Technologies Cisco Systems filed a lawsuit against Huawei Technologies on January 23, 2003 claiming that Huawei had copied, misappropriated, and infringed on Ciscos intellectual property in its rival line of low-cost networking routers.1 Cisco Systems is an industry leader in providing networking equipment for voice and info transfer. Huawei Technologies is Chinas leading manufacturer of telecom and network equipment gear and is viewed by analysts as a formidable competitor to Cisco2. II. Details of the lawsuitCiscos allegations include the following3 . Copying of IOS source code IOS (Internetworking Operating System) is Ciscos copyrighted operating(a) system. Cisco claims that Huaweis operating system contains text strings, file names, and even bugs that are identical to those in Ciscos IOS source code. . Copying of Ciscos technical support Cisco alleges that whole portions of text from Ciscos copyrighted technical documentation are found in Huaweis user manuals for their Quidway routers and switches. . Copying of dominate Line Interface A Command Line Interface (CLI) is the interface through which a user issues commands to a router. Cisco claims that extensive portions of its CLI and befriend screens appear verbatim in Huaweis operating system for its Quidway routers and switches. . Patent infringement Cisco alleges that Huawei is infringing at least five Cisco patents related to proprietary routing protocols. Cisco wants a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting the use, sales, marketing, and distribution of Huaweis Quidway routers and switches. The suit includes an order to triple all damages, an amount to be determined by a jury during a trial.4 Cisco also took action against a Huawei distributor in the United Kingdom. Spot Distribution received a depart and desist letter for distributing Huawei products that all egedly infringe Ciscos intellectual property.5 Cisco filed the case in the United States partition Court for the Eastern District of Texas,6 nearby Plano, Texas, where it has a subsidiary. The court is reputed to be knowledgeable about patent and intellectual property infringement cases, sympathetic to patent holders, and quick to issue injunctions. era patents granted in the United States are only enforceable in the United States, copyright laws are enforced worldwide.