Title :
FTC Sues N-Data for Violating Standards Commitment to IEEE
Abstract :
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it has simultaneously filed suit against Negotiated Data Solutions LLC (N-Data) and settled the case by entering into a consent order with N-Data. The FTC charged N-Data with violating section 5 of the FTC Act by violating a commitment to the IEEE to license NWay Ethernet patents on royalty terms agreed upon with the IEEE, which caused higher prices due to higher royalties to be passed on to consumers of electronic products. Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair commercial acts and practices.
Keywords :
IEEE standards; local area networks; patents; Federal Trade Commission; IEEE standards violation; N-data; NWay Ethernet patent; Negotiated Data Solutions LLC; electronic products; royalty; unfair commercial acts; unfair competition; unfair practices; Automatic control; Business; Companies; Computer industry; Ethernet networks; Licenses; Protocols; Semiconductor device manufacture; Standards publication; Switches; Fast Ethernet; N-Data; NWay; autonegotiation; law; royalties; skullduggery; standardization;
Journal_Title :
Micro, IEEE
