Austin American-Statesman: Battery Deal Gives UT Royalty Payments

October 11, 2008 — The Austin American-Statesman reports that The University of Texas and Bickel & Brewer client Hydro-Quebec have "settled a 7-year-old lawsuit that clears the way for the development and sale of battery-powered products that would use technology created at the Austin campus." 

The report states that, according to the terms of the settlement, the UT System and Hydro-Quebec will be paid $30 million by Japanese communications giant NTT Corp. 

The report states that "NTT Corp. will license the battery technology patents to Hydro-Quebec and the university system, giving H-Q free rein to try to sell the technology in a range of electronic devices. The settlement also allows the utility to sublicense the technology to other companies." 

Austin American-Statesman: UT System Wins Round in Battery Suit

February 6, 2007 — The Austin American-Statesman reports that The University of Texas System "won a key appellate ruling in a lawsuit alleging that Japanese telecommunication giant NTT Corp. stole advanced battery technology from the Austin campus." The article states that the ruling "moves the the UT System and Canadian utility Hydro-Quebec a big step closer to trying the case in state district court in Austin." 

 The report states that Bickel & Brewer client Hydro-Quebec is the lead plaintiff in the case. Hydro-Quebec licensed the battery technology from the UT System but claims the "theft and misuse of the technology has cost it and the university licensing deals" — with damage estimates at $500 million to $750 million, according to attorney Bill Brewer.