Neodron complaint prompts USITC investigation into tech leaders
The US International Trade Commission ( ITC) will investigate possible patent violations of “certain capacitive touch-controlled mobile devices, computers, and components thereof” used by tech companies including Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft following a complaint filed by Ireland’s Neodron.
The complaint, filed on Friday, February 14, alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, regarding the importation into the US and sale of the devices. Neodron is requesting that the ITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
Neodron holds multiple technology-related patents.
Aside from the trio mentioned above, the ITC has identified the following as respondents to the investigation: ASUSTeK Computer, ASUS Computer International, LG Electronics, LG Electronics USA, Motorola Mobility, Samsung Electronics, Samsung Electronics America, Sony Corporation, and Sony Mobile Communications.
One of the ITC’s administrative law judges will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337. That initial determination will be subject to review by the ITC.
The ITC will make a final determination in the investigation “at the earliest practicable time”, said the statement, and within 45 days after the institution of the investigation, the USITC will “set a target date for completing the investigation”.
This isn’t the first time Neodron has been involved in this type of action. In February this year it filed multiple patent infringement complaints against Apple, Amazon, AsusTek Computer, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Motorola and Sony, all related to keyboard functionality and sensitivity.
Six of the filings (against Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Sony, LG Electronics, and AsusTek Computer) were at the US District Court for the Western District of Texas. A seventh, against Motorola Mobility, was filed at the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
In the lawsuits, it claimed the companies are infringing four separate patents: 7,821,425 (“capacitive keyboard with non-locking reduced keying ambiguity); 7,903,092 (“capacitive keyboard with position dependent reduced keying ambiguity”); 8,749,251 (“proximity sensor”); and 9,411,472 (“touch sensor with adaptive touch detection”).
Neodron is the “sole owner by assignment of all right, title, and interest in each asserted patent”, said the complaints.
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