TELECOMWORLDWIRE--(C) 1994-8 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Hewlett-Packard and its business partner North Communications have been served with a lawsuit by Richard Mettke for infringement of his Internet kiosk patent. Mettke applied for an online communication terminal apparatus patent in January 1995 and received that patent in February 1997. If the courts find that Mettke's patent rights have been infringed Hewlett-Packard will be forced to shut down its Internet kiosks or negotiate a licensing deal with Mettke. According to World Airport Week there are those in the industry who feel the lawsuit isn't much of a threat and that it wont stand up to a challenge in court.