IPCO LLC verses Elster Electricity LLC
August 2, 2005 (Press Release) --
ATLANTA July 31, 2005 — An Atlanta based wireless communications research development company IPCO LLC accused a provider of electricity metering products, Elster Electricity LLC, of patent infringement, IPCO LLC will seek upward of $100 million in damages, according to sources from IPCO LLC. CVC Capital Partners (“CVC”), a leading private equity firm in Europe and Asia, has announced that funds managed and advised by CVC will acquire Ruhrgas Industries GmbH (the parent company of Elster Electricity LLC) from E.ON Ruhrgas AG for around € 1.5billion.
According to IPCO LLC, Elster Electricity Energy Axis System willfully and deliberately infringes IPCO’s U.S. Patent No. 6,249,516, which was issued to the plaintiff in 2001. IPCO filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
“IPCO has suffered damages as a result of Elster’s infringement of the ‘516 Patent and will continue to suffer damages and irreparable harm in the future unless Elster is enjoined from infringing further the ‘516 Patent,” says Joel Goldman, Vice President General Council for IPCO LLC.
IPCO’s ‘516 patent, titled “Wireless Network Gateway and Method for Providing Same,” relates to wireless mesh technology for use on automatic meter reading devices. The defendant, a provider of advanced electricity metering products, communications solutions and metering automation systems, created the “EnergyAxis System” to aid utilities and retail energy providers. The program provides users with a system that features “smart” electronic meters and fully automated, intelligent two-way communications that make on-request meter reads and server-installed commands a reality, according to Elster’s Web site.
Mr. Goldman says “the defendant infringes by practicing the ‘516 patent without authorization or license while inducing others to infringe, and IPCO seeks a judgment of infringement, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, trebled damages and attorney fees.
According to IPCO LLC, Elster Electricity Energy Axis System willfully and deliberately infringes IPCO’s U.S. Patent No. 6,249,516, which was issued to the plaintiff in 2001. IPCO filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
“IPCO has suffered damages as a result of Elster’s infringement of the ‘516 Patent and will continue to suffer damages and irreparable harm in the future unless Elster is enjoined from infringing further the ‘516 Patent,” says Joel Goldman, Vice President General Council for IPCO LLC.
IPCO’s ‘516 patent, titled “Wireless Network Gateway and Method for Providing Same,” relates to wireless mesh technology for use on automatic meter reading devices. The defendant, a provider of advanced electricity metering products, communications solutions and metering automation systems, created the “EnergyAxis System” to aid utilities and retail energy providers. The program provides users with a system that features “smart” electronic meters and fully automated, intelligent two-way communications that make on-request meter reads and server-installed commands a reality, according to Elster’s Web site.
Mr. Goldman says “the defendant infringes by practicing the ‘516 patent without authorization or license while inducing others to infringe, and IPCO seeks a judgment of infringement, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, trebled damages and attorney fees.
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