Universal Avionics Settles Patent Suit

Universal Avionics Systems, Tucson, Ariz., this week reached a settlement in its synthetic vision technology patent dispute with Optima Technology Group, Inc., San Jose, Calif., in U.S. District Court in Arizona. Universal filed the lawsuit in November 2007 against Optima, after repeated threats from Optima to sue for alleged infringement of patents based on Universal's sale of its Vision-1 synthetic vision product. In the lawsuit, Universal sought a declaration that the patents were invalid and not infringed. Optima countersued seeking a finding of infringement, substantial damages and an ongoing royalty. Under the terms of the agreement, Universal will pay nothing and receive a full release of liability from Optima and a covenant not to sue for patent infringement in connection with all current or future Universal products. "The settlement fully vindicates Universal's position that it did not infringe any valid claims from Optima's patents and thus did not require a license to market and sell its Vision-1 products," said Scott J. Bornstein, lead counsel for Universal and co-chair of the Patent Litigation Group at Greenberg Traurig, LLP.