U.S. ITC Investigate Semiconductor Related Products of Samsung Electronics for Violating Patents

The U.S. International Trade Commission on the 23rd(local time) started investigating semiconductor and related goods of Samsung Electronics whether it violated the patents by U.S. Trade law provision 337.

According to the report of Washington D.C.-based office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) on the 24th, the investigation was caused by the lawsuit of world second large semiconductor maker Toshiba, Japan, which had requested U.S. ITC to ban import and selling of semiconductor related products of Samsung Electronics.

The report of KOTRA analyzed, “final judgment usually comes after one to one and a half years’ investigation, and operates 60 days after sentencing. The lawsuit of Toshiba seems to aim at the income by loyalty rather than the blocking exports of Samsung semiconductors to U.S”

Kim Wan-Ki head of planning group over Semiconductor Intellectual Property in Samsung Electronics said, “we will prepare aggressive response by raising a cross-action after recognizing the content of the complaint. This problem can be settled on the way to final judgment. ”

Samsung Electronics and Toshiba have been negotiating over `Cross License Exchange` that offsets the patents on the design of semiconductor chips yielding no fruits.

Kwang-Hyun Kim kkh@donga.com