Nortel sues Vonage over patents

WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Nortel Networks Corp. sued Vonage Holdings Corp., claiming the U.S. voice-over-Internet protocol firm violated nine patents related to Internet phone services.

The Toronto telecommunications-equipment maker claims in its lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware, that Vonage of Holmdel, N.J., violated nine patents related to Internet phone services and related features such as 911 and 411 calling and click to call.

The lawsuit counters Vonage allegations that Nortel had violated three of its patents, Nortel said.

Vonage had continued litigation initiated in 2004 by Digital Packet Licensing Inc., which owned the patents that enable voice-over-Internet-Protocol technology.

Vonage acquired the patents July 10, 2006.

Vonage settled three lawsuits with major U.S. telecom companies Verizon Communications Inc., AT&T Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp.