[July 19, 2011]

DataQuill Retains Global IP Law Group, and Announces that it is Entertaining Offers to Purchase the Company or Its Important Patents

Global IP Law Group, LLC announced today that DataQuill Limited (BVI) has retained Global IP, and that DataQuill is entertaining offers to purchase the company or its portfolio of patents. Among other things, DataQuill's patents cover the core feature of today's advanced electronic products: the ability to shop for programs or goods using a smartphone, tablet, or other device with wireless connectivity. The patents have repeatedly survived challenges lodged around the world, and have been successfully licensed to more than 10 major high-technology companies.

"We are looking forward to helping DataQuill complete a transaction," said David Berten, a founder and partner with Global IP. "DataQuill's technology is ubiquitous in modern 'converged' devices, and thanks to the company's success before the USPTO, the EPO, and in US courts, the company's patent portfolio has grown and been strengthened. A portfolio with this battle-tested pedigree rarely comes to market, and we expect its availability to generate robust interest by potential purchasers around the world."

DataQuill's portfolio includes 40 issued patents. A key patent family within this set has four issued U.S. patents (three of which have been granted re-examination certificates after successful ex parte re-examinations), and a pending U.S. continuation. The four U.S. patents each issued over hundreds of patentand non-patent references and collectively have hundreds of claims. Outside the U.S., DataQuill defeated a European Opposition proceeding initiated by Nokia (News - Alert) and has national stage coverage in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Foreign counterparts to the key patent family have also issued in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, and New Zealand.

The U.S. patents have been in litigation against Handspring/Palm (now owned by HP), Kyocera, Nokia, Research in Motion (News - Alert), and HTC (pending). Their claims have been subject to multiple Markman rulings, with nearly all of the disputed terms being interpreted in the patentee's favor.

Global IP is asking interested parties to provide non-binding initial expressions of interest in DataQuill or its patents by September 30, 2011. Additional information is available from David Berten, the main Global IP lawyer supervising the transaction.

Global IP will be managing the sale process and will be assisted in its efforts by Portland, Oregon-based Resolution Strategies, LLP, DataQuill's long-standing licensing counsel. DataQuill will also continue to be represented by its primary litigation counsel, Competition Law Group, LLC, in litigation pending against HTC (News - Alert).

About DataQuill Limited

DataQuill Limited (British Virgin Islands) owns patents that have issued around the world. The company developed technology in the early 1990s for a merchandising system allowing users to browse and purchase items through a wireless device. DataQuill's technology has been widely adopted and licensed to major companies around the world.

About Global IP Law Group, LLC

Global IP Law Group, LLC is a law firm based in Chicago, Illinois with affiliates in London, Auckland, and Seoul. Global IP assists clients in monetizing patents through sales, licensing, and litigation. The firm advised Nortel (News - Alert) Networks through the monetization process of Nortel's more than 6,000 patent assets, which culminated in pending sale to a consortium including Apple, Microsoft, RIM, Sony and Ericsson (News - Alert) for $4.5 billion.

About Resolution Strategies, LLP

Resolution Strategies LLP, is a law firm that specializes in representing its clients as settlement counsel in resolving business and legal matters. In the IP area, Resolution Strategies has represented a wide range of inventors and companies in patent licensing negotiations and has concluded licensing transactions and settlements impacting hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue.

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