Award, Licensing Bring $70M To 3Com

A Taiwanese rival has agreed to pay Marlborough-based 3Com Corp. $70 million to resolve a long-standing patent dispute.

Under the agreement, the Realtek Group will pay the $70 million within the next 45 days. In April, a U.S. District Court jury in Northern California awarded 3Com $45.3 million for past patent infringement by Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 3Com had been seeking damages and a permanent injunction in addition to the jury award.

The new agreement puts an end to the lawsuit and provides licensing to allow Realtek to continue using 3Com's patented technology for the balance of the $70 million.

Both companies make computer network and communications equipment.