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IBM complains to ITC over ASUSTeK infringement

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

December 6, 2007, 12:01 PM

The Armonk, N.Y. company has asked the International Trade Commission to issue an injunction to prevent the importation of ASUSTeK products into the United States.

IBM says it has repeatedly tried to reach a licensing agreement with the Taiwanese company. "IBM's position has been -- and remains -- that ASUSTeK either must license or stop using IBM's patented technology," it says.

ASUSTeK is said to be infringing on three patents: the first covers PC power supplies, the second covers aspects of an automatic fan speed control. The third covers a method for making a cluster of computers appear as a single host on a network.

The products from the company said to be infringing on IBM's patents include notebook and barebones computers, servers, as well as various computer components.

Since learning of the accusations, ASUSTeK has conducted its own initial investigation and says that its lawyers were unable to find any evidence that it was using IBM's technology.

"Based on an evaluation report by the lawyers and experts, there's no patent infringement by the company," the company said in a Taiwan Stock Exchange filing.

Add a Comment (2 Comments)

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By DraconPern

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 11:02 PM

It's going to be IBM vs every computer maker out there. Most likely they will settle out of court.

Score: 0

By Galway

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 2:52 PM

Good luck on that one Asus. If IBM can claim this one, and if anyone can im sure its IBM, then others will sure to be targeted. In a market they can be argued to have created, they have a huge patent portfolio to choose from.

Still ... motherboards have become so cheap, im sure not many will notice the increase. Im just glad I pay in £ and not $.

Score: 0

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