Delaware Court Tosses HD Radio Suits

A patent holding company’s infringement suit against 14 radio ownership groups has been dismissed with prejudice, meaning the suit cannot be reintroduced in court. RadioWorld reports all parties have agreed to cover their own costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees, according to court documents.

The lawsuits by Wyncomm LLC, and its subsidiary Delaware Radio Technologies LLC, targeted the terrestrial HD Radio data and voice transmissions of the radio broadcasters. The patent firms sued broadcasters in federal court in 2013 claiming the broadcaster’s HD Radio technology infringed on U.S. patent no. 5,506,866 and two other associated patents they own.

Legal observers say Wyncomm’s suit was weakened after HD Radio developer iBiquity Digital Corp. filed suit in 2014 against Wyncomm and DRT claiming the patents in question were invalid. Court records indicate iBiquity agreed to take the lead in defending its HD Radio system.

The broadcasters named as defendants in the federal lawsuit were Beasley Broadcast Group, CBS Radio, Clear Channel parent CC Media Holdings (now iHeartMedia), Cox Media Group, Cumulus Media, Entercom, Entravision, Greater Media, Hubbard Radio, Radio Disney, Radio One, Saga, Townsquare Media and Univision.