Report on Identifying and Protecting Qualcomm Inc. Intellectual Property

Report on Identifying and Protecting QUALCOMM Inc. Intellectual Property

Introduction

QUALCOMM Incorporated is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on the Company's CDMA digital technology. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM has boasted more than 3,000 patent portfolios in wireless industry and has licensed its essential CDMA patent portfolio to more than 125 telecommunications equipment manufacturers worldwide. Under the protection of those IP, QUALCOMM continues to enable the enterprise, network operators and manufacturers, developers and wireless end-users by providing technology innovation and leadership in the telecommunications industry worldwide. This paper will give you a brief analysis on the key forms of QUALCOMM IP, the potential threats and also a general framework to effectively address the intellectual property issues and manage the legal IP risks.

QUALCOMM originally made its name known through pioneering and commercializing its CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) digital wireless technology, is now one of the leading enablers of 3G wireless products and services. QUALCOMM spearheads the evolution and growth of 3G wireless by developing CDMA2000® 1X, 1xEV-DO and WCDMA (UMTS) chipsets and end-to-end solutions for network operators and equipment manufactures, as well as other participants in the wireless value chain such as applications developers, publishers and content providers. CDMA works by converting speech into digital information, which is then transmitted as a radio signal over a wireless network. Using a unique code to distinguish each different call, CDMA provides excellent voice capacity and data capability by enabling many more people to share the airwaves at the same time---without static, cross-talk or interference. Because of its advantage, CDMA serves as the foundation for 3G services worldwide.

QUALCOMM’s major products and services are generated by three categories of technologies. First is CDMA2000 1x & CDMA2000 1xEV-DO chipsets and solutions, which provide voice and data capabilities within a standard 1.25 MHz CDMA channel for outstanding spectral efficiency and flexibility. Developed as a direct evolution from the previous generation of proven CDMA systems, QUALCOMM’s CDMA2000 technologies provide the easiest, most cost-effective path to 3G services for CDMA operators. The second product the company supplies is Wideband CDMA (UMTS) chipsets and solutions, an approved 3G standard that uses 5 MHz channels for both voice and data. In the area of WCDMA (UMTS) development, QUALCOMM developed the world’s first commercially available, fully integrated WCDMA (UMTS) chipset solutions and now offers complete solutions to support high-speed WCDMA (UMTS) networks worldwide. The third is BREW® System. It provides a platform to connect all the parts of the mobile marketplace value chain, including application developers, publishers, content providers, device manufacturers, operators and customers with a full offering of products and services dedicated to a global marketplace for wireless data.

It is obvious that QUALCOMM stands on its foothold firmly reliant on the extensive patent portfolios generated by the vital CDMA, CDMA2000 1x & CDMA2000 1xEV-DO and WCDMA technologies widely accepted in the global telecommunication industry. QUALCOMM co-founders invented CDMA technology, which is fully owned by the company and a 100% key patent. CDMA2000 (1x & 1xEV-DO) and WCDMA technologies are occupied by QUALCOMM as a more than 70% key patent and 30% respectively. In reality, the company extensive patent portfolio has boasted more than 3,000 United States patents and patent application of CDMA and related technologies. To generate royalty revenues and support worldwide adoption of its CDMA technology, QUALCOMM has licensed its essential CDMA patent portfolio to more than 125 telecommunications equipment manufacturers worldwide. Through technology licensing a wide array of chipset and software solutions and the technical support needed to develop products and services for the rapidly growing wireless market are offered to those licensees. These solutions enable them to streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance revenues. LICENSEE acknowledges and agrees not to contest that QUALCOMM is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title and interest, including copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets in the QUALCOMM CDMA wireless products, as well as the underlying QUALCOMM code which exists in the application solutions.

Established in San Diego, CA, QUALCOMM has corporate offices in more than 30 geographic locations around the globe spreading over 25 countries. In the United States, the company forms its products and service foundation in approximately 15 states,