Palm’s Graffiti text input system apparently seems to be a never-ending source of legal disputes for its owners(and many third parties). This time, Access wasn’t on the receiving end of a lawsuit, but rather dished out one to the folks at hop-on’s(a pretty weird cell phone company – more on them soon).
Anyways, the boys now managed to hop into a common box and settled – hop-on may use the Graffiti brand name, but probably pays Access some cash for the privilege. However, all of this is speculation – all information available to the press is the following, slightly cryptic sentence:
PALM and HOP-ON, INC. announced today the Company settled its Trademark dispute with Access Systems Americas, Inc. (formerly known as PalmSource, Inc.). The dispute between Hop-On and ASA regarding use and registration of the GRAFFITI Trademark has been resolved by a confidential agreement between the parties. This case was in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Hop-On will continue to own and use the Graffiti and Graffiti Wireless Trademarks in the categories designated on their USPTO Trademark application, which include mobile phones and providing wireless services.ASA will continue to own and use the Graffiti trademark for its handwriting recognition software, operating system software, telecommunication service software and other categories designated in ASA’s Graffiti Trademark and trademark application with the USPTO.
P.S. Access probably got some money out of this deal…so much about that PalmSource purchase never paying out. I can well envision a new RamBus/SCO growing up here – if the OS doesn’t sell(more on that another day…its not how you think it is…fu**en NDA) at least the patents can be used creatively 
.
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