Motorola takes more legal action against Hytera

Motorola Solutions has filed more patent infringement complaints against rival radio manufacturer Hytera, this time focusing on acoustic performance.

The new complaints assert that Hytera’s two-way wireless communication devices featuring ‘improved squelch functionality’ infringe Motorola Solutions’s patent EP 1 139 562 B1. The case has been filed with the Regional Court of Mannheim in Germany.

According to a statement, Motorola is seeking an injunction to prevent “Hytera from offering and delivering products with the accused squelch feature in Germany.” It is also demanding the “recall and destruction of infringing products and various damages.”

Speaking of the move, Mark Hacker, general counsel and chief administrative officer of Motorola Solutions, said: “Each legal action we take furthers our commitment to safeguarding our valuable intellectual property for the benefit of our customers, shareholders, employees, partners and other stakeholders around the world.”

He continued: “This case, in addition to the case filed in the Düsseldorf Court, demonstrates the breadth of our patent portfolio, in terms of both technology and geographic scope.”

Hytera made no comment, referring Land Mobile instead to a statement made by the company on March 23rd following the launch of Motorola’s initial action against the company. It states: “We are disappointed that Motorola Solutions has chosen to bring lawsuits against Hytera rather than compete in the marketplace. We are ready to respond vigorously to Motorola Solutions’ allegations, and are fully confident that Hytera will be vindicated.”

The action follows Motorola’s most recent patent infringement complaint against Hytera, which took place in the Regional Court of Düsseldorf in April of this year. It now has five pending IP litigations against the Chinese company, including a patent infringement complaint filed with the US International Trade Commission on March 29 this year.

Separate patent infringement and “trade secret misappropriation" complaints meanwhile were filed on March 14 2017, in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.