“Controversy!” — It is chasing Vonage all the way. No sooner, it solves one controversy; another drags the troubled VoIP startup to the court of law. It is now hard to see when the beleaguered Vonage will come up with a clean face.
According to media reports, AT&T has sued Vonage in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin claiming patent infringement by the latter.
AT&T says Vonage is unlawfully using their wide-area packet technology system and insists Vonage to refrain from using the platform. The company is also seeking treble damages and attorneys’ fees from Vonage. However, the amounts were not mentioned.
Just a few days ago, Vonage settled two legal disputes. The latest one was with Klausner Technologies and reached out an agreement to use their patents relating to voicemail services.
Prior to that, the residential VoIP service provider agreed to pay some $80 million to Sprint Nextel as part of the settlement. In return, Sprint Nextel has granted more than 100 VoIP patents to Vonage.
Vonage is still fighting a legal battle with Verizon Communication. The residential VoIP company was ordered to pay $58 million in damages, plus 5.5 percent royalties on future revenues for the violation of three Verizon patents.
Via: Information Week
