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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
January 28, 1999
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)
Commission file number 0-22418
ITRON, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Washington 91-1011792
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
2818 North Sullivan Road
Spokane, Washington 99216-1897
(509) 924-9900
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)
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Item 5. Other Information
On October 3, 1996, Itron filed a patent infringement suit against CellNet Data
Systems ("CellNet") in the United States District Court for the District of
Minnesota, alleging that CellNet infringes the Company's United States Patent
No. 5,553,094, entitled "Radio Communication Network for Remote Data Generating
Stations," which was issued on September 3, 1996. The Company is seeking
injunctive relief as well as monetary damages, costs and attorneys' fees.
On January 28, 1999, the Court issued its decision on motions and cross motions
for summary judgement that had previously been filed by the Company and CellNet.
In its decision, the Court granted the Company's motion on the issue of validity
of its Patent and denied CellNet's motions on invalidity. The Court granted
CellNet's motion on the issue of non-infringement and denied the Company's
motion on infringement. The Company believes the non-infringement decision is
incorrect and that is has substantial grounds for an appeal from any judgment
that may be entered, should the Company decide to pursue that option.