Gateway hits back at HP

NEW YORK: Personal computer maker Gateway Inc. said that it filed a patent complaint with the International Trade Commission against Hewlett-Packard Co., one month after the ITC said that it would investigate a complaint HP filed against Gateway.

Gateway is in the midst of several legal battles with HP over patents. HP initially filed suit in March against Gateway in federal court in San Diego for alleged patent violations and then filed with the ITC in May. Gateway counter-sued HP in federal court in May.

Gateway alleges in its filing with the ITC, which was filed on July 2, that HP violated three patents related to audio controls used for CD-Rom players integrated into PCs, the integration of computerized televisions in PCs, and control of video and graphics display devices.

The ITC said in early June that it would investigate HP's claim that Gateway was importing desktop, notebook and server computers that infringe on seven of its patents including technology for power management, booting a computer from a CD and cursor control.

HP said that it was not surprised by the move, which it described as a normal part of the litigation process.

"The patents we've asserted over Gateway are very strong and expand over Gateway's entire product line. These are some fairly narrow patents they've asserted over us," said Joe Beyers, vice president of intellectual property licensing for HP.

HP, based in Palo Alto, California, is the second largest personal computer maker worldwide behind Dell Inc. Gateway is the third largest PC maker in the United States, but has lost global market share in recent years due to competition from Dell and HP.

(Reporting by Caroline Humer)