SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) — NetApp Inc. and Sun Microsystems, which was acquired by Oracle Corp. last year, have agreed to settle a three-year-old patent lawsuit.
The companies, which both provide data storage equipment for corporate customers, released few details about their agreement. In a statement, NetApp CEO Tom Georgens said the two companies will continue to collaborate. But he did not say if the settlement includes any licensing agreement, royalty payments or damages.
NetApp sued Sun in September 2007 in response to what it called at the time Sun's "prolonged and aggressive claims" of patent violation on NetApp's part.
NetApp wanted a court to declare that it was not infringing on three disputed patents held by Sun. The company also offered a counterclaim, alleging Sun was violating seven of its own patents.
After news of the settlement Thursday, NetApp shares rose 87 cents to $47.30 in morning trading. Oracle, which acquired Sun last year in a $7.4 billion deal, rose 30 cents to $24.44.
