The business of law

AT&T Files Patent Lawsuit Against Vonage

Vonage Holding Corp. suffered another blow since at&T Inc. filed suit, which claimed they were violating a single patent that lets users access an internet phone device. Vonage has lost two high-profile patent lawsuits. All the major phone companies have patents they claim cover aspects of voice-over-internet-phone technology.

From there, at&T has been trying to arrange a settlement with Vonage for the past two years but was unable to negotiate a "reasonable licensing arrangement, which forced to file a lawsuit.

Vonage had hoped to keep negotiating since it is their preference to settle disputes through negotiation rather than litigation. Vonage's primary focus was to improve the quality of service to customers and maximize value for shareholders.

In legal terms, Vonage has been reeling in the past year as it has lost two high-profile patent lawsuits. All the major phone companies have patents they claim cover aspects of voice-over-internet-phone technology, which has violated its agreement with at&T. The company is also in violation because they have not been cooperative in arranging a settlement for the past two years, which is a "reasonable licensing arrangement" even though they claimed the company had hoped to keep negotiating. Furthermore, this is a patent infringement dispute, which the court found Vonage infringed on at&T patents. If it does not go in their favor the court could order an injunction that could have prevented Vonage from signing up new customers. In the past, Vonage won an injunction staying the order and is appealing the original infringement ruling. Vonage in August said it was close to rolling out workarounds for two of the three patents other companies have claimed (at&T sues Vonage for patent infringement).

In my opinion, Internet phone company Vonage Holding Corp. is guilty of disclosing that a third major telecom company had filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against it. Vonage is violating a single patent that lets users access an internet phone device. With the following statement, this company has been in violation and will continue to try and get away with whatever they want.

Vonage said in a regulatory filing. Vonage's stock, which was down 13 cents to $1.54 in 4 pm. New York stock Exchange composite trading, was down another 24 cents to $1.30 in afterhours trading. Vonage went public in May of last year at $17.One of the early players offering internet telephone service, Holmdel, N.J., vonage has been reeling in the past year as it has lost two high-profile patent lawsuits. All the major phone companies have patents they claim cover aspects of voice-over-internet-phone technology" (at&T Files patent Lawsuit Against Vonage).

AT&T has been trying to arrange a settlement with Vonage for the past two years, which shows they want to do the right ethical process without going to court, however they were unable to negotiate a "reasonable licensing arrangement" with the company. It is my opinion that Vonage is being untruthful in their below statement because if they truly wanted to come to an agreement, they would have done it sooner and not be forced in court.