Broadcom files patent infringement suit against Emulex

US computer chip company Broadcom filed a patent infringement suit on Monday against Emulex, two months after dropping a hostile takeover offer for its rival.

"We believe Emulex is infringing a broad range of Broadcom patents," David Rosmann, Broadcom's vice president for intellectual property litigation, said in a statement. "We are concerned that Emulex's infringement is pervasive."

Broadcom said it had filed a complaint on Monday in the US District Court for the Central District of California alleging that Emulex was infringing 10 Broadcom patents related to networking and communications technologies.

The Irvine, California-based company launched a takeover bid for Emulex on April 21 offering 764 million dollars or 9.25 dollars per share, a 40 percent premium over its share price at the time.

Broadcom raised its bid to 11 dollars but withdrew it on July 9.

Broadcom said it was seeking unspecified monetary damages and a stop to Emulex's alleged infringement.

There was no immediate response from Emulex to the complaint.

(c) 2009 AFP