SAN DIEGO, Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that a United States District Judge has ordered Gabriel Technologies Incorporated to pay more than US $12,400,000 in attorneys' fees for pursuing objectively baseless claims against Qualcomm in bad faith. 

The complaint, filed in October 2008, asserted eleven causes of action against Qualcomm and focused on allegations that Gabriel had ownership rights to numerous Qualcomm patents relating to GPS technologies; Gabriel sought one billion dollars in damages. Several of Gabriel's claims were dismissed early in the lengthy litigation, and the Court recently granted Qualcomm summary judgment on the remaining claims. The Court noted in its Order that it warned Gabriel early on in the proceedings that the claims lacked merit, but Gabriel pursued the litigation for an extended period of time without being able to remedy basic deficiencies, such as the inability to name alleged inventors to support claims of inventorship or identify trade secrets to support claims of misappropriation. On October 12, 2012, Qualcomm filed a motion for attorneys' fees, nearly all of which were awarded.

"We are very pleased that the Court has ordered Gabriel to reimburse Qualcomm's legal fees," said Alex Rogers, senior vice president and legal counsel for Qualcomm. "When Gabriel threatened to bring this action years ago, we responded that their claims were meritless and, if necessary, we would prove it in court. As the Court's order demonstrates, Gabriel's allegations were entirely unfounded and the fee award fully validates our position."

Qualcomm is represented by Cooley LLP. The case is Gabriel Technologies Incorporated and Trace Technologies v. Qualcomm Incorporated, Snaptrack Inc., and Norman Krasner, case number 08cv1992 AJB, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm's licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm's engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm's website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the outcome of any appeals, the Company's ability to collect on any amounts awarded, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2012, and most recent Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update, or continue to provide information with respect to, any forward-looking statement or risk factor, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Qualcomm Contacts:
Emily Kilpatrick, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com

Christie Thoene, Public Affairs
Phone: 1-858-651-5130
Email: cthoene@qualcomm.com  

Warren Kneeshaw, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com

SOURCE Qualcomm Incorporated