ITC Begins Investigation on Possible Import Ban for Macronix Flash Memory Chips
The International Trade Commission voted Sept. 4 to investigate whether imports of flash memory chips made by Macronix and used in several other companies’ products are violating Section 337 by infringing on Spansion’s patents. Spansion filed its complaint Aug. 1, alleging the Macronix chips infringe its patents on the structuring of memory cells on the chips so that the cells can be put closer together, reducing costs of higher memory capacities while avoiding interference between the memory cells. The chips are sold alone and also incorporated into laptops, routers, game cartridges and game consoles. Spansion is asking for a general exclusion order banning imports of Macronix chips, as well as cease and desist orders. The ITC said the following are respondents to the investigation:
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- Macronix International Co, Ltd., of Hsin-chu, Taiwan
- Macronix America, Inc., of Milpitas, Calif.
- Macronix Asia Limited of Kanagawa Pref., Japan
- Macronix (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., of Sa Tin, N.T., Hong Kong
- Acer Inc. of New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Acer America Corporation of San Jose, Calif.
- ASUSTek Computer Inc. of Taipei, Taiwan
- Asus Computer International of Fremont, Calif.
- Belkin International, Inc., of Playa Vista, Calif.
- D-Link Corporation of Taipei City, Taiwan
- D-Link System, Inc., of Fountain Valley, Calif.
- Netgear Inc., San Jose, Calif.
- Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan
- Nintendo of America, Inc., of Redmond, Wash.
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