USITC to probe Lenovo video coding tech
Nordic firm accuses Chinese multinational of multiple infringements | Complaint seeks a permanent limited exclusion order and permanent cease and desist orders.
Lenovo and its subsidiaries will face an investigation by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) following complaints by telecoms company Ericsson alleging that the Chinese multinational infringed patents for high-efficiency video coding technology.
Video coding refers to the process of reducing the size of video files and streams as well as converting them into different formats for distribution.
The pending investigation stems from a complaint filed by Stockholm-based Ericsson in December 2023, which was later supplemented on January 2, 2024.
The Swedish company alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 relating to the US importation and sale of electronic computing devices, as well as components and modules.
The commission voted to institute an investigation of the electronic computing devices, and components and modules that allegedly infringe certain claims of US patent numbers: 9,641,841; 10,142,659; 10,708,618; and 10,708,613.
Ericsson requests that the USITC issue a permanent limited exclusion order and permanent cease and desist orders.
The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:
Lenovo (US) of Morrisville, North Carolina;
Lenovo Group of Beijing, China;
Lenovo (Shanghai) Electronics Technology, of Shanghai, China;
Lenovo PC of Hong Kong; and
Lenovo Information Products of Shenzhen, China.
The USITC’s chief administrative law judge will assign the case to one of the USITC’s administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337, with that initial determination subject to review by the Commission.
Within 45 days after the institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation.
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