There was a nervous undercurrent at the recent Futures Industry Conference in Chicago stemming from the breadth of market patents awarded to Trading Technologies and the subsequent settlements of two infringement lawsuits TT initially filed. Just when competition has reduced exchange fees, licensing fees loom as a possible new tax on brokerage firms. TT's suit against fellow technology firm E-Speed is pending a December court hearing, but the quick settlement of suits filed against Goldenberg Hehmeyer and Kingstree Trading could establish a user-fee benchmark. Goldenberg Hehmeyer agreed to pay TT a $0.05 per contract user fee for one year and $0.10 in subsequent years, and Kingstree agreed to a $0.10 fee. Both firms acknowledged in their settlements that they had violated the TT patent.
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