Xerox alleged that its scientists invented the “Unistroke” software that recognises one-stroke motions as characters, the basis of 3Com’s Palm handwriting recognition system. Xerox brought the action against Palm in 1997, shortly after it registered the patent in the US.
Judge Michael Telesca threw out the case saying there was “no genuine issue as to any material fact.”
A Xerox spokeswoman said the company would be reviewing Telesca’s decision before deciding whether or not to lodge an appeal against it. A successful appeal and court order in Xerox’s favour could lead to 3Com and any other companies using the technology being required to pay a licence fee to Xerox for each PDA sold.
Xerox is seen by some commentators as only recently asserting its rights, having previously let go of inventions as ubiquitous as the mouse and the laser printer.