December 29, 2010
News Release 10-140
Inv. No. 337-TA-753
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain semiconductor chips and products containing same. The products at issue in this investigation are memory controllers as well as products containing them such as motherboards, modems, routers, and computers.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Rambus, Inc., of Sunnyvale, CA, on December 1, 2010. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain semiconductor chips and products containing same that infringe patents asserted by Rambus. The complainant requests that the USITC issue an exclusion order and cease and desist orders.

The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., of Austin, TX;
Broadcom Corporation of Irvine, CA;
LSI Corporation of Milpital, CA;
Mediatek, Inc., of Taiwan;
NVIDIA Corporation of Santa Clara, CA;
STMicroelectronics N.V. of Switzerland;
STMicroelecronics, Inc. of Carrollton, TX;
ASUSTEK Computer Inc. of Taiwan;
ASUS Computer International Inc. of Fremont, CA;
Audio Partnership PLC of the United Kingdom;
Biostar Microtech (U.S.A.) Corp. of City of Industry, CA;
Biostar Microtech International Corp. of Taiwan;
Cisco Systems, Inc., of San Jose, CA;
Elitegroup Computer Systems of Taiwan;
EVGA Corporation of Brea, CA;
Galaxy Micro Systems Ltd. of Hong Kong;
Garmin International of Olathe, KS;
G.B.T. Inc. of City of Industry, CA;
Giga-byte Technology Co., Ltd., of Taiwan;
Gracom Technologies LLC of City of Industry, CA;
Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, CA;
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies of San Jose, CA;
Jaton Corporation of Fremont, CA;
Jaton Technology TPE of Taiwan;
Micro-star International Co., Ltd., of Taiwan;
MSI Computer Corporation of City of Industry, CA;
Motorola, Inc., of Schaumburg, IL;
OPPO Digital, Inc., of Mountain View, CA;
Palit Microsystems Ltd. of Taiwan;
Pine Technology Holdings, Ltd., of Hong Kong;
Seagate Technology of Scotts Valley, CA;
Sparkle Computer Co., Ltd., of Taiwan;
Zotac International (MCO) Ltd. of Hong Kong; and
Zotac USA Inc. of City of Industry, CA.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-753), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's six administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.

The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.