3M and Batteries.com settle patent spat

3M and Batteries.com LLC have settled a patent dispute involving lithium ion batteries.

As part of the settlement, 3M said that Batteries.com, an internet retailer of replacement batteries for consumer electronics, has acknowledged the validity and infringement of 3M's patent rights to lithium ion battery technology.

Batteries.com has agreed to sell lithium ion laptop batteries containing cells manufactured by a licensed source of 3M's patented technology, and to discontinue sales of infringing lithium ion batteries.

The remaining terms of the settlement are confidential.

"3M believes that its cathode materials containing nickel, manganese and cobalt are an important technology for current and next-generation lithium ion batteries, and stands ready to supply cathode materials to the industry," the company stated.

"Over the past decade, 3M has invested significant resources in the design, development and commercialisation of advanced material technologies for lithium ion battery applications."