Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) has sued rival PC-maker Acer for patent infringement. According to Reuters the "patents relate to optical data storage, circuits and methods for reducing computer system power consumption, multiple processors in computer systems, and an improved method for attaching devices to a digital serial bus, which allows communication between electronic systems".
The media’s view of this is that HP want to keep Acer out of the US where it has been making some progress. Acer is currently challenging Lenovo to become the world’s third largest PC maker behind HP and Dell (DELL). Dell, as a matter of fact, would benefit from the HP action. The flagging Texas PC operation does not need any more competition in its home market.
But, whatever happened to patent lawsuits aimed at collecting royalties or seeking damages for IP infringement? The HP move is a fairly transparent attempt to take patent law and put it on its head. It may work, but closing Acer out of a market seems to take the concept of damages a bit far.
Douglas A. McIntyre can be reached at [email protected]. He does not own securities in companies that he writes about.
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