Microsoft, Fujitsu, Asus settle with CSIRO

Microsoft, Fujitsu and Asus have settled with Australian research body Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) over its US wireless patents.

"CSIRO has reached confidential settlements with HP, Fujitsu, Microsoft and Asus in regard to WLAN," spokesperson Huw Morgan told ZDNet.com.au.

The trio of companies joins Hewlett Packard in settling with the research body. CSIRO would not make any further comment due to ongoing litigation against Intel, Dell, Toshiba, Netgear, D-Link, Belkin, SMC, Acton, 3COM, Buffalo and Nintendo.

The CSIRO has been embroiled in patent disputes since 2005 when it launched a case against Buffalo Technologies for violating its patent relating to wireless networking — US patent 5,487,069.

Industry giants including Apple, Dell, Intel, HP and Netgear sued the CSIRO in two separate lawsuits to have the patent overturned, which the CSIRO then counter-sued after winning its case against Buffalo Technologies.