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Research Firms Settle Patent Lawsuit
NetRatings, Inc. and The NPD Group, Inc. have settled the lawsuit filed by the former in March 2003 and alleging patent infringement by NPD. Settlement terms included the licensing of NetRatings' patented technology to NPD for specific market research activities.
The lawsuit alleged that NPD infringed on NetRatings' computer use tracking patent (United States Patent No. 6,115,680) and breached a license agreement entered into by the parties in 2002.
Under the new license, NPD may continue to use the technology for its MusicWatch Digital service and will have the right to continue development of other digital tracking services, provided that they do not compete with certain aspects of NetRatings' business. Additional terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
The companies' web sites are at www.nielsen-netratings.com and www.npd.com
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