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27 August 2019PatentsRory O'Neill

GlobalFoundries seeks import ban on Apple chip supplier, TSMC

The US’ biggest semiconductor foundry has unleashed a string of lawsuits against world leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), as well as high-profile customers including Apple and Motorola.

California-based GlobalFoundries filed the lawsuits yesterday, August 26, at US district courts, the US International Trade Commission (ITC), as well as regional courts in Germany.

According to the US company, TSMC’s latest technology infringes 16 of GlobalFoundries’ patents covering “advanced semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing those devices”.

“For years, while we have been devoting billions of dollars to domestic research and development, TSMC has been unlawfully reaping the benefits of our investments,” said Gregg Bartlett, senior vice president, engineering and technology at GlobalFoundries.

GlobalFoundries is seeking a US and German ban on the importation of products which use the allegedly infringing technology. This would include unspecified products from a total of 20 defendants named in the suit, such as Apple, Qualcomm, nVidia, Motorola, and Google, which count among TSMC’s customers.

According to the US company, the infringing technology includes TSMC’s 7nm, 10nm, 12nm, 16nm, and 28nm processes.

“This action is critical to halt Taiwan Semiconductor’s unlawful use of our vital assets and to safeguard the American and European manufacturing base,” the company said.

TSMC hit back in a statement, calling its US rival’s allegations “baseless”.

“We will fight vigorously, using any and all options, to protect our proprietary technologies,” the Taiwanese company said.

Court documents state that GlobalFoundries is seeking enhanced damages for TSMC’s “willful” infringement of its patents.

In its statement, the US company said TSMC’s infringement had contributed to tens of billions of dollars in sales.

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Patents
29 October 2019   GlobalFoundries and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company have agreed to dismiss all patent suits between themselves, as well as those that involve any of their customers.