Canadian patent licensing company WiLAN has launched a fresh round of patent infringement lawsuits against companies such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Dell and HTC, among others, for violating two wireless patents. According to AppleInsider, the patents in question pertain to technology related to cellular wireless standards CSMA, HSPA and Wi-Fi, and also 4G long-term evolution (LTE). The complaint has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, a place which sees frequent patent infringement lawsuits filed in hopes of a favorable outcome to the plaintiff.

Founded in 1992, WiLAN holds an impressive portfolio of 1,400 issued or pending patents. As listed under the "Inventions" section of the company's webpage, its intellectual property covers a range of broadband and wireless technologies such as DOCSIS, DSL, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, 3G cellular and Bluetooth. 

WiLAN has a long history of resorting to litigation to get companies to license its patents however, reports CNET News. Indeed, the company website noted that "WiLAN chose in 2006 to focus its business on developing, protecting and monetizing patented inventions" after "realizing the value that its intellectual property brought to industry." The strategy appears to be working, as CEO Jim Skippen has in a recent statement noted that the company expects a "significant return" on "past investment in litigation."

For more on this story:
- check out this article at CNET News
- check out this article at Apple Insider

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