CSIRO's Wireless Local Area Network Patent Dispute Moves a Small Step Closer to Resolution. (September 23, 2008)

CSIRO's WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) patent litigation with the computer networking industry moved a stage further when the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) in Washington, DC issued a decision on Friday 19 September 2008 which affirmed most aspects of the earlier decision but remanded the issue of 'non-obviousness' to the district court for further consideration.

Buffalo Technology (USA), Inc. and Buffalo, Inc. were appealing a decision by a US Federal District Court in favour of CSIRO in patent litigation relating to CSIRO's WLAN.

On the issue of infringement of CSIRO's patent by computers and other devices practising relevant IEEE standards, the CAFC supported CSIRO's position.

CSIRO's chief executive, Dr Geoff Garrett said: "CSIRO welcomes the support given to its case by the Court of Appeals. The decision gives us every confidence to move forward."

A spokesperson for the organisation promised that CSIRO will make further comment once the district court publishes its decision on the issue which has been remanded back to it by the CAFC.