U.S. Probes Samsung, TSMC, Qualcomm Over Patent

On Friday, October 14, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) announced that it will investigate potential patent infringements involving certain semiconductor devices, integrated circuits (ICs), and mobile devices utilizing these components. The investigation targets Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and Qualcomm.

According to Reuters and TelecomLead, which covers semiconductor news, the USITC launched the inquiry following a complaint filed by Daedalus Prime, a New York-based company, in September. The complaint alleges that the semiconductor products manufactured by Samsung and TSMC, as well as specific ICs from Samsung and Qualcomm, violate patents.

Daedalus Prime's complaint, submitted on September 13, claims that the imported integrated circuits, mobile devices containing these ICs, and related components sold in the U.S. infringe on patents under Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930. The company is requesting the USITC to issue a “limited exclusion order” and “cease and desist orders” to halt further sales of the alleged infringing products.

At this stage, the USITC has not made any decisions regarding the merits of the case. The Commission's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign an administrative law judge to schedule hearings. This judge will make a preliminary determination on whether the products violate Section 337, with the final decision subject to the Commission's review.