austriamicrosystems files infringement suit vs. Melexis

austriamicrosystems AG has filed a patent infringement lawsuit regarding magnetic encoder products against Melexis N.V./SA and its German subsidiary Melexis GmbH at the District Court (Landgericht) in Duesseldorf, Germany.

In its complaint, austriamicrosystems asserts that the sale and distribution of products from Melexis' product family of magnetic encoders in Germany infringes European Patent EP 0 916 074 B1. The complaint seeks unspecified damages and a court ordered injunction against future infringement by Melexis.

Bernd Gessner, senior VP and general manager of the automotive business unit at austriamicrosystems commented: "Having spent a great amount of time and effort to develop our intellectual property in this area, we are now forced to take the steps necessary to protect our proprietary and inventive ideas."