The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is investigating Samsung, Qualcomm, and TSMC over possible patent infringement. The American regulators will reportedly probe certain semiconductors and circuits manufactured by these firms. Mobile devices using those components are also on the radar of this probe. The investigation comes after a complaint from New York-based Daedalus Prime LLC, Reuters reports (via).
The new report doesn’t shed much light on the patents involved in this probe. It simply states that the ITC has confirmed the investigation. The regulatory body is reportedly looking to ascertain alleged patent infringement by Samsung and TSMC while manufacturing certain semiconductors. It will also investigate some integrated circuits from Samsung and Qualcomm, as well as mobile devices that employ the infringed technology and components.
The complaint from Daedalus Prime LLC that led to this investigation came last month. The firm is reportedly seeking limited exclusion and cease and desist orders against the three companies from the ITC. But it will be the decision of the judge who will hear arguments from all parties involved in the matter and gather evidence to conclude. This may take months, or even years as Samsung, TSMC, and Qualcomm are all expected to defend themselves.
These kinds of complaints and investigations aren’t new in the tech world
This complaint may have led to legal trouble for Samsung, TSMC, and Qualcomm but they are accustomed to these kinds of investigations. None of this is new in the tech world. All big companies face such complaints and investigations over possible patent infringement. Samsung and Apple fought one of the most high-profile legal battles for about seven years. The latter first sued the former in 2011 alleging that the South Korean company copied the design of its iPhones. A series of lawsuits, countersuits, trials, and appeals followed in the years to come. The two smartphone giants eventually settled the case in 2018.
Depending on the credibility of the complaint, this investigation into Samsung, TSMC, and Qualcomm by the ITC may get a lot of media attention. However, nothing can be said for certain just yet. The mere start of an investigation doesn’t necessarily mean these companies have infringed on any patents or done anything wrong. We will have to wait and see what comes out of this case. None of the defendants has released an official statement regarding this investigation yet. We will keep you posted as and when more information emerges.
2022-10-18 15:06:39