Trade watchdog barks at flash memory

THE US International Trade Commission (ITC) is investigating flash memory chips and products made by some top names to see if they break an outfit's patents.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Spansion on 6 August, which moaned that the there have been violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

Basically the problem is that some flash memory chips and products containing them infringe its patents, Spansion alleged. Named in the complaint were Samsung, Apple, Nokia, PNY Technologies, RIM, and Transcend.

Getting the ITC to investigate a patent complaint has become legally fashionable lately. Not only can the Commission fine the offender but it can also shut down sales with a trade embargo.

Often the idea is to get the named companies to pay up for a licence.

As is routine in such cases, the ITC said that the its Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the its six administrative law judges, who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. µ