USITC to investigate Amazon, Microsoft, and Samsung
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has announced it will scrutinise companies including Amazon, Microsoft, and Samsung following a complaint from Ireland-based Neodron.
Yesterday, June 19, the ITC said it would investigate the three companies, along with Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Motorola, for alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1990.
Neodron filed its complaint in May, accusing the companies of infringing US patent numbers 8,432,173; 8,791,910; 9,024,790; and 9,372,580, all of which cover touchscreen technology.
“Touchscreen technology plays a ubiquitous and important role in countless electronic devices today,” said Neodron in its complaint. “But just a few decades ago, touchscreen technology could be found only in science fiction books and film.”
The first finger-driven touchscreen was invented by E.A. Johnson in 1965 at the Royal Radar Establishment in Malvem, UK, added the claim.
The suit added that, since then, there have been two types of advancements: fundamental ones, which make basic touch technology work; and optional improvements, which “typically represent one technological option that improves aspects of the user experience and functionality of a touchscreen”.
“This infringement action is about the latter: several patented improvements, which took years of research and millions of dollars in US investments to develop, and which are infringed by the respondents’ accused products here,” said the claim.
According to the complaint, the companies are infringing the four patents through importation into the US and the sale of touch-controlled mobile devices and computers.
Neodron has also asked the ITC to issue a limited exclusion order and cease-and-desist orders.
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