Multinational: Telco giants sucked into patent wars with ITC probe

The US International Trade Commission reportedly initiated a patent infringement investigation last Friday, a move that will probe various wireless telco giants of the globe.

At a bipartisan panel held late last week, the ITC announced an investigation into Finland-based Nokia, South Korea-based Samsung, Japan-based Sony and China-based ZTE following a complaint lodged by rival Pragmatus Mobile, based in the US. Pragmatus alleges the companies infringed on its patents regarding wireless devices and is requesting that the ITC issue a cease and desist order against the rival firms’ products.

Despite the investigation’s announcement, the ITC has yet to set a timeline to complete its probe into the matter.

According to reports, US-based companies are increasingly utilizing the ITC in efforts to secure import bans against rival products alleged to have infringed on patents, a method that is cheaper and faster than would be in US courts.

The investigation comes after the regulator found Samsung to have infringed on certain Apple products, thereby issuing an import ban on some of those devices.

Full Content: CRI English

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