This time, remarkably enough, Vonage doesn't have to write a big, fat check. The companies have agreed to cross-license three patents from the portfolios of each, according to Associated Press, thus ending legal hostilities initiated by Nortel earlier this month.

And while the story doesn't say so specifically, we're going to presume that Vonage's contributions to the deal involve technology that the company actually owns.

Already this year, Vonage has settled patent disputes costing the company more than $200 million with AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and Verizon. Even a defunct company, SunRocket, has found cause to sue Vonage.

Vonage's stock was up 7 percent to $2.14 on the Nortel news.