Samsung phones and laptops to face USITC investigation
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has agreed to investigate a complaint that Samsung products, including mobile phones, tablets and laptops, have infringed two patents covering semiconductors.
Yesterday, October 31, the ITC announced it will probe “wafer-level packaging semiconductor devices and products” after a complaint filed by Tessera Advanced Technologies in September.
Tessera, which focuses on research and development (R&D) of semiconductor packaging technology, cited two patents in the complaint, saying Samsung had continued using its technology despite a licence having expired.
The disputed products also include notebook computers and cameras that include wafer-level packaged semiconductor components.
Tessera wants a limited exclusion order and cease-and-desist orders for Samsung’s alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
Tessera’s complaint focuses on US patent numbers 6,784,557 and 6,954,001, called “Semiconductor device including a diffusion layer formed between electrode portions” and “Semiconductor device including a diffusion layer” respectively.
The action was one of several lawsuits filed by Tessera and its subsidiaries against Samsung and its affiliates, with 24 patents cited overall. The inventions cover a wide range of semiconductor processing, bonding and packaging technologies, as well as imaging technologies, Tessera said.
At this stage the ITC has not ruled on the merits of the case, as the complaint will now be handled by an administrative law judge who will make an initial determination.
Jon Kirchner, Tessera’s CEO, said at the time that Samsung’s most recent semiconductor patent licence expired in December 2016, “but we believe it is continuing to use our patented technologies without authorisation, and without paying us fair compensation”.
According to Tessera’s website, it was founded in 1990 by three scientists at an IBM laboratory and originally focused on R&D. Since then it has expanded, including by acquiring FotoNation, “a leader in image and video enhancement and analysis”.
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