Patent Office To Re-Examine Controversial Forgent PatentPatent Office To Re-Examine Controversial Forgent Patent

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will reexamine Forgent Networks Inc.'s controversial patent for data-image-compression technology that's part of the widely used JPEG standard for digitized still images.

Forgent, based in Austin, Texas, said this week that it had received notice of reexamination of the so-called '672 patent, but appeared confident that the patent would remain intact.

"We have not found any convincing arguments of invalidity, including the recent claims, and as a result we are confident in the patent, and look forward to an efficient re-examination," Richard Snyder, chairman and chief executive of Forgent, said in a statement.

About 30 companies whom Forgent has sued in federal court for alleged patent infringement are challenging the company's claims. In the last three years, Forgent has collected more than $105 million in revenues from licensing '672 patent to more than 50 companies in Asia, Europe and the United States, the company said.

The digital-image-compression technology is used to compress, store, manipulate, print or transmit digital still images. The technology is found in digital cameras, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, printers, scanners, and some software.

Forgent owns the '672 patent through the acquisition of Compression Labs Inc.