ParkerVision Announces Markman Hearing in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Qualcomm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ParkerVision, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRKR), a developer and marketer of semiconductor technology solutions for wireless applications, announced today that U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. has established a schedule for upcoming hearings and other case deadlines in ParkerVision Inc. v. Qualcomm Inc., No. 3-2011-cv-00719, a patent infringement lawsuit filed by ParkerVision against San-Diego based Qualcomm, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM).

The patent claim construction hearing, also called a Markman hearing, is set for August 10, 2012, at which time the judge will be asked to issue rulings regarding the language and interpretation of the ParkerVision patents at issue in the case.  Markman hearings are considered a critical event in a patent lawsuit.  The upcoming Markman ruling will define the property rights for the technologies that ParkerVision has invented and has the right to exclusively practice. The court's Markman hearing decisions will drive and inform many aspects of the litigation.  The jury trial in this case is scheduled to begin on August 5, 2013.

"We are passionate about the technology that ParkerVision has developed, and we are committed to protecting our patented innovations from unauthorized use," stated Jeffrey L. Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ParkerVision. "We look forward to showing the court and jury how Qualcomm is using ParkerVision's technology despite the legal patent protections that we have expended a great deal of time and capital to secure. This firm timeline means that we will soon get our day in court."

In other key developments, the court denied as moot Qualcomm's motion for preliminary injunction against ParkerVision's patent prosecution counsel.  Instead, the Court approved a protective order, which all parties negotiated and agreed to, that enables ParkerVision's patent prosecution counsel to continue delivering legal advice and services to ParkerVision provided that they do not represent ParkerVision in the lawsuit or advise the company regarding Qualcomm's alleged infringement. 

Both of these developments stem from a lawsuit that ParkerVision filed against Qualcomm on July 20, 2011, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.  ParkerVision brought this action because Qualcomm's past and current chipset products infringe several ParkerVision patents related to radio-frequency receivers and the down-conversion of electromagnetic signals, which represent a body of intellectual property that ParkerVision pioneered for creating direct conversion receivers.

ParkerVision's lawsuit seeks monetary damages from Qualcomm as well as a permanent injunction barring the manufacture and sale of Qualcomm's infringing devices.  Additionally, the complaint accuses Qualcomm of willfully infringing and seeks an award of exemplary damages, attorneys' fees and related court costs.

More information on the case can be found on the ParkerVision website at http://www.parkervision.com/public_relations/patent_litigation.php.

About ParkerVision Inc.

ParkerVision, Inc. designs, develops and markets its proprietary RF technologies, which enable advanced wireless communications for current and next generation mobile communications networks. The company's award-winning IP portfolio includes 188 domestic and international patents. Its solutions for wireless transfer of radio frequency (RF) waveforms enable significant advancements in wireless products, addressing the needs of the cellular industry for efficient use of power, reduced cost and size, greater design simplicity and enhanced performance in mobile handsets as the industry migrates to next generation networks. ParkerVision is headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. For more information, please visit http://www.parkervision.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, each of which speaks only as of the date made. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are disclosed in the Company's SEC reports, including the Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the Forms 10Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and Sept. 30, 2011. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated or projected.

For more information, contact Robert Tharp at 800-559-4534 or [email protected]. For investor relations, contact Ron Stabiner at 212-888-4848 or [email protected].

SOURCE ParkerVision, Inc.