Semiconductor International - Cognex Acts to Protect Customers from Abusive Patent Trolling; Lawsuit Against Acacia Research Corporation and Veritec Seeks Declaration of Invalidity, Unenforceability, and Non-Infringement of 2D Symbology Patent:


Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX), the world's leading supplier of machine vision systems, announced today that it has served a complaint against Acacia Research Corporation and Veritec, Inc. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court in Minnesota.

Cognex is seeking a declaration that U.S. Patent 5,612,524, which claims to cover a system for reading 2D symbology, is invalid, unenforceable, and not infringed by either Cognex or by any users of Cognex products. The patent has not been asserted against Cognex, but, nevertheless, Cognex has taken this action to protect its customers who have received demand letters.

"Cognex firmly believes in the right of inventors and patent holders to seek licensing fees for legitimate, patented technology. But, we strongly object when questionable patents are used to extort payments from companies that do not have the expertise to challenge the patents, or who, for business reasons, decide to submit to licensing demands rather than to undertake costly legal challenges," said Dr. Robert J. Shillman, Cognex's Chairman and CEO.