Golden Bridge Technology Inc. v. Ericsson, Inc., et al.

Ericsson, Inc.

McKool Smith successfully defended Ericsson Inc. in a closely watched case that resulted in a take-nothing verdict in an antitrust claim tied to the technological standards used in the wireless communications industry.

Plaintiff Golden Bridge Technology Inc. of New Jersey sought more than $1 billion from Ericsson and five other telecommunications companies based on allegations that the companies conspired to exclude Golden Bridge’s technology as part of a global standard for mobile phones and portable data transmission devices.

The dispute stemmed from the establishment of the Third Generation Partnership Project in 1998 as a means to assure compatible, worldwide standards for telecommunications systems and equipment.   Golden Bridge filed its lawsuit after the company’s CPCH technology was removed from the standard by 3GPP.

In an order entered in September 2007, the federal court dismissed Golden Bridge’s claims and found that the defendants did nothing to cause any damage to the company.