TC issues initial determination in Tessera’s DRAM ITC action

SAN JOSE, USA: Tessera Technologies Inc. announced the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the International Trade Commission (ITC) action brought by Tessera against certain DRAM manufacturers issued an Initial Determination finding Tessera’s asserted patents are valid, but not infringed by the respondents. The action is Investigation No. 337-TA-630 (DRAM ITC action).

The ALJ’s decision, termed an “Initial Determination,” is subject to review by the full Commission. Within 120 days of the issued Initial Determination, the Commission can affirm, modify or reverse the ALJ’s decision in developing the ITC’s final determination.

“We intend to once again seek review of the Initial Determination by the full Commission,” said Henry R. Nothhaft, president and CEO of Tessera. “The Commission previously agreed in our Wireless ITC Action that our technology was valid and that we had proven infringement at trial. We hope that it will again reverse the ALJ’s Initial Determination. Furthermore, we have not taken into account any revenue based on the outcome of this ITC action in preparing our financial guidance. We remain focused on developing innovative technologies and are confident in the future of our business.”

The respondents in the DRAM ITC action include Acer, Inc., Centon Electronics, Inc., Elpida Memory, Inc., Kingston Technology Co., Inc., Nanya Technology Corporation, Powerchip Semiconductor Corp., ProMOS Technologies Inc., Ramaxel Technology Ltd., Smart Modular Technologies, Inc., and TwinMOS Technologies, Inc. Tessera is asserting infringement of three Tessera patents, U.S. Patent No. 5,663,106 (‘106), U.S. Patent No. 6,133,627 ('627), and U.S. Patent No. 5,679,977 (‘977) and is seeking, among other things, an exclusion order barring importation of infringing products that incorporate the patented technology.