The cases keep coming at the International Trade Commission, where three new patent infringement complaints were instituted this week alone.
It's the busiest year ever in ITC history for cases brought under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. A record 50 cases have been instituted in FY 2010 - and that’s not counting three cases still to be voted on by the commission.
By comparison, 43 cases were instituted in 2008 (the former record), and 29 in 2009. A decade ago, there were only 11.
The newest cases involve liquid crystal display devices, wind and solar powered light posts and street lamps, and components for installing marine autopilots with GPS.
The LCD case was brought by Chimei-Innolux Corp. – Taiwan’s number one maker of LCD panels, as well Chi Mei Optoelectronics USA, Inc., of San Jose, Calif., and Innolux Corporation of Austin, Texas. The companies are represented by Tom Schaumberg and Michael Doane of Adduci, Mastriani & Schaumberg and Morgan Chu, Christopher Vanderlaan, Jonathan Kagan, Benjamin Hattenbach and Ben Yorks of Irell & Manella.
The complaint alleges that Sony Corp. products including televisions, Vaio computer screens and Playstation 3 video game consoles infringe Chimei patents.
Sony currently has an ITC case pending against Chimei and others which also involves televisions and monitors. In that case, Sony has turned to Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Kenyon & Kenyon for counsel.
The solar and wind light post case was brought by Duggal Dimensions of New York City, represented by Amy Beard of Tannenbaum, Helpern, Syracuse, & Hirschtritt. It names Gus Power Inc; Efston Science Inc.; King Luminaire, Inc.; and The StressCrete Group as respondents.
The marine autopilot case was filed by American GNC of Simi Valley, Calif. represented by John Fuisz of Fuisz Law Firm LLP. The respondents are Furuno Electronics Co, Navico Holding AS, Flir Systems, Inc., and Raymarine UK Ltd.
Comments