Finisar and Sumitomo Cross-license Optical Transceiver Technology

DURHAM, N.C., June 27 -- Finisar Corp. and Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. have signed a cross-licensing agreement covering certain intellectual properties in fiber optic transceivers that both companies own.

The agreement includes several issued or pending Finisar patents that apply to small form factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver modules, which are designed for high-speed communication applications of up to OC-48 speeds.

In return for the digital diagnostics technology, Sumitomo granted Finisar access to several of Sumitomo's leading patents in the optical transceiver field.

Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"In the need to meet rapidly growing demand for more functions in the smaller form factor, SFP is a key technology for equipment suppliers," said Shuzo Suzuki, Sumitomo's director and general manager of its Photo-Electron Products Div. "The agreement allows us both to rapidly expand our offerings to better meet the needs of our customers."