The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to launch an ...
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to launch an investigation into Lexar’s claims that Toshiba’s flash chips and memory cards are infringing 3 of its patents, Lexar said. Lexar filed a complaint with ITC in April seeking a…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
permanent exclusion order barring import of infringing Toshiba NAND flash chips and cards, as well as products that incorporate them. Among the Toshiba products that subject to the ITC probe are 16-bit multi-level cell NAND flash chips and 8-gigabit single level cell and multi- level cell flash chips. Products being investigated include Toshiba’s flash chips. Lexar’s complaint also requests a cease-and-desist order to bar further sales and distribution of Toshiba products already imported into the U.S. The case was referred to ITC administrative law judge Robert Barton, who’s expected to issue an initial decision by early- to mid- 2007. The ITC will likely make a final ruling in 3rd quarter 2007. The ITC investigation is separate from Lexar’s on- going legal battle with Toshiba in Cal. Superior Court. A Santa Clara County court jury awarded Lexar a total of $464.5 million last year after finding Toshiba liable for the theft of flash memory-related trade secrets and violating fiduciary duty. A Cal. state judge, however, ordered a new trial in Dec., finding there was “insufficient evidence” to support “any of the economic and monetary” awards granted by the jury (CED Dec 6 p7).