Telect, At&T; Reach Agreement In Patent Dispute

Telect, a Liberty Lake-based manufacturer of telecommunications products, has dropped its patent infringement lawsuit against AT&T.

During May of last year, the company filed the suit in U.S District Court, alleging an AT&T “modular, staggered jack panel product” was too similar to a Telect design.

Telect alleged that any manufacture, use or sale of the AT&T product violated its patent.

Wayne Williams, president of Telect, said the patent was for a device used by telephone companies to digitally connect telecommunications networks together.

Telect announced Monday that the two companies had reached a patent cross-license agreement, but Telect is keeping the exact terms of the settlement confidential. The case never went to court, Williams said.

Despite the wait, Williams said both companies were pleased with the settlement. Such lawsuits are typically long and costly.

“We’re both pleased with the outcome so we can both get back to serving our customers,” Williams said.

Telect designs and manufactures cable assemblies for technological and industrial uses. Its products include cables for voice, data, audio/ video, fiber optic and power systems. Telect also makes electronic monitoring equipment.

Aviation retailer to open

The Spokane area has an Air Force base, an international airport, even an airfield for small private planes.

Jose Muinos decided that if there are that many people here cruising the blue sky, there must be a way to turn his passion for flying into green dollars. On the advice of a friend, he moved here from Oregon to start up a new business - The FlightLine Shop. The store will sell pilot’s equipment and other aviation merchandise.

The business is scheduled to open sometime in mid- to late December at 13324 E. Sprague, in the new Valley Plaza commercial building. The store will occupy 2,200 square feet of space there. Valley Plaza’s first tenant, Great Clips, has already opened.

FlightLine will offer technical equipment like headsets and manuals. The store will also stock many gift items, clothing, prints and books.

Muinos said his store won’t be just for airplane pilots or fans of traditional aviation. It will also cater to those with a hankering for hang gliding, paragliding, skydiving or ultralight flying, too.

“The shop will be a nucleus for various aviation interests,” he said.

Muinos himself has wore a number of flight goggles in his time, too. He’s been a flight instructor, licensed aircraft mechanic and worked in the defense industry. He loves skydiving, too.

“I’m an air nut,” he said.

, DataTimes