Broadwing will pay Ciena
$35
million to settle a long-running patent infringement lawsuit related to
optical network technology, the companies announced today.
Nicole Anderson, a spokeswoman for Linthicum, Md.-based Ciena, said the suit
was originally filed in July 2000 and concerned four patents for wavelength division multiplexing
Ciena agreed to settle the case because it determined it was in the best
interests of the company and shareholders, Anderson said.
The payments will be made in three equal annual installments. Up to $33
million dollars of Broadwing’s total payment may be used as credits to buy
Ciena gear and services at market prices.
Additional terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
“The [settlement] allows us to concentrate the full force of our resources
on building our business and further increasing the momentum we reported in
our fourth quarter and year-end 2004 results,” David R. Huber, Broadwing’s
CEO, said in a statement.
Based in Columbia, Md., Broadwing, formerly Corvis, is the
parent company of Broadwing Communications and Corvis Equipment.
Broadwing Communications provides telecom services to businesses, carriers
and government agencies, while Corvis Equipment develops advanced network
gear, primarily for the federal government.