The defendant in a recently announced patent infringement lawsuit between iPod accessory manufacturers says the suit “has no merit” and “is confident a verdict will be rendered in its favor.”
Netalog, parent company of Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), on Thursday announced it had filed suit against Belkin Corp., a company that manufactures computer and iPod peripherals. Netalog claims that Belkin is infringing Netalog’s patent for an “FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly for MP3 player” — called the ‘085 patent for short.
The suit was filed in the United States District court for the Middle District of North Carolina, and it alleges that Belkin’s TuneBase FM product infringes on Netalog’s own patented design.
Netalog’s complaint is similar to another suit the company has filed against Griffin Technology. In 2004, Netalog sued Griffin for Griffin’s RoadTrip FM transmitter and iPod battery charger. That trial is planned for 2006.
In a statement provided to Playlist , Belkin said, “It is Belkin’s firm belief that such complaint has no merit and Belkin has specified a number of defenses to the complaint, including but not limited to invalidity of the ‘085 patent.”
“Accordingly, in September 2005 Belkin filed an answer to the Netalog complaint setting forth such defenses. Additionally, the answer sets forth counterclaims against Netalog for declaratory relief based on invalidity and non-infringement of the ‘085 patent,” Belkin’s general counsel, Chris Flower, continued.
“Belkin is confident that a verdict will be rendered in its favor with regard to this matter,” said Flower.