Hewlett-Packard, Xerox Settle Pending Patent Suits

Hewlett-Packard Co. and Xerox Corp. announced that they settled all pending patent-infringement suits. The companies said they settled their differences to avoid the cost, time and distractions of lengthy legal battles. Xerox filed complaints involving HP products using inkjet, color balancing and resolution enhancement technologies. HP’s suits involved Xerox products using touch-screen controls, inkjet and image enhancement technologies. Under terms of the settlement, no other details were released. On the New York Stock Exchange, Hewlett-Packard closed up $5 at $144, while Xerox gained 19 cents to $26.