ShoreTel, Mitel Ditch Lawsuits, Cross-License Patents

Unified communications providers Mitel Networks Corp. and ShoreTel Inc.(SHOR) have settled their legal differences.

Two years ago, Mitel sued ShoreTel for patent infringement; the Ottawa-based company claimed ShoreTel’s phone systems, including voice switches, devices and call management all used Mitel’s intellectual property. ShoreTel fought back, alleging that Mitel was the infringer and that the rival was trying to hurt ShoreTel’s IPO prospects – ShoreTel went public in July 2007.

On Friday, though, the companies said they have agreed to cross-license their patents and dismiss their respective lawsuits. The companies did not say how much they paid to settle the cases, nor were many other details disclosed.