A U.K. judge has ruled against Storage Computerin its intellectual property lawsuit against rival
Hitachi Data Systems.
In a complaint filed earlier this year, Nashua, N.H.-based Storage alleged that Hitachi violated
two patents held by its U.K. subsidiary. Storage was seeking monetary damages.
“The judge has ruled that neither patent was shown to be valid in the UK or infringed by Hitachi,” Storage said in a statement released this morning. “Upon review of
the full text of the court decision the Company will determine if there is a substantial basis for an appeal.”
The action was the latest in an increasingly litigious sector. Storage players, large and small, seem to be constantly trading lawsuits to block rivals from using patented
technology or in some cases obtain license payments or a portion of revenues.
Hitachi Data Storage, a subsidiary of the Japanese electronics giant, has also had recent legal scuffles with EMC,
the Hopkinton, Mass., industry leader.