USITC to investigate Toyota following Broadcom infotainment complaint
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has announced that it will initiate an investigation into Toyota following a patent infringement claim.
US-based semiconductor company Broadcom Corporation filed the complaint at the ITC yesterday, June 7.
It alleged that Toyota, Panasonic , Denso Ten, Renesas Electronics and Japan Radio violated section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by importing and selling certain infotainment systems and automobiles containing components that infringe several of Broadcom’s patents.
The patents are US numbers 6,937,187; 8,902,104; 7,512,752; 7,530,027; 8,284,844; and 7,437,583, and cover inventions to receive satellite signals and the control of television systems in vehicles.
Products involved in the investigation include head units, rear seat entertainment units, units for displaying information or entertainment, and cameras and controllers.
The ITC’s chief administrative law judge (ALJ) will assign the case to one of the commission’s ALJs, who will schedule an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make a determination on whether section 337 was violated, with the finding subject to review by the ITC.
A target date for concluding the investigation will be set 45 days after the investigation is launched.
The ITC has been kept busy recently with claims of section 337 violations.
On Wednesday, it launched an investigation into the importation of arrow components into the US that allegedly infringe a manufacturer’s patents. And last week, the agency launched an investigation into Heineken’s method of storing beer in kegs following a complaint from Anheuser-Busch InBev.
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