Acer Incorporated has hired intellectual-property lawyer Chris Ottenweller of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, who helped win a big patent case against Hewlett-Packard Company two years ago, to help fight two HP patent lawsuits. The Taiwanese company is being accused by HP of infringing on 10 HP patents related to PCs. HP is seeking jury trials and compensation from Acer, as well as treble damages for alleged intentional violation of the patents and payment of its legal fees. HP, the world"s largest PC-maker, filed two lawsuits against Acer this year in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Acer has said it is investigating the claims internally and that it respects the intellectual-property rights of others. It may also be planning legal action of its own. "Acer is looking into the unlicensed use of its own intellectual property," Acer Chairman J.T. Wang said, without referring to any companies by name but noting that Acer owns approximately 1,000 PC-related patents worldwide. In any case, he argued, Acer is protected by indemnification clauses in agreements held by its contract manufacturers. "The agreements are there, and the agreements are valid."