TSMC Faces US International Trade Commission Investigation Over Patent Infringement Claims That Could Ban Chip Shipments
A court case is underway in the U.S. Against the largest contract chip manufacturer TSMC that could prevent the chip making company from shipping into the U.S. the US International Trade Commission has opened up an investigation in to the claim that the semiconductor maker has been infringing on patents during chip making. The complaints against the chipmaker came from 2 Irish patent licensing companies that are owned by the private equity firm, Vector Capital, based in the U.S.
Longitude Licensing and Marlin Semiconductor are the two companies that brought forth the lawsuit, and the patent complaint alleges that TSMC chip manufacturing has been violating the intellectual property rights these companies have. Marlin Semiconductor had earlier obtained some of the technology in the patent dispute from United Microelectronics Corporation. A prohibition order could ban chips made by TSMC from entering the United States if the federal trade agency finds against TSMC.
The Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that domestic chip makers abide by the law. Official said in a release statement that Taiwan's semiconductor makers have long upheld respect for global patent rights and has stated that Taiwanese chip makers abide by local law in all international operations/administration fields of manufacturing and is always maintaining a close relationship with their worldwide partners, according to some media reports. Government officials stated that they are now following the case very closely and will work hand in hand with TSMC and will provide whatever administrative assistance to TSMC if the dispute is enlarged and will try to secure the stability of the world chip making market and international technology supply chain, says the same reports.
