More giants buckle in CSIRO Wi-Fi patent case

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), currently fighting a patent case against over a dozen technology companies in the US District Court in Texas, is slowly managing to solicit royalties out of some of the world's biggest technology companies via out-of-court settlements.

CSIRO spokesperson Huw Morgan has confirmed CSIRO settled with software giant Microsoft and PC manufacturer Asus early this week, after settling with Fujitsu last week and HP the week prior.

CSIRO claims to have patented core elements of the technology used in 802.11a and 802.11g wireless devices.

Its US patent for Wireless LAN technology (US Patent 5487069) was granted in January 1996 and has since been appealed by several of the world's largest technology companies.

There are still nine technology companies battling CSIRO in the Texas court.

Morgan said CSIRO will not make any comment on the research organisation's prospects until the case concludes.