Jury favors Power Integrations in patent case against Fairchild

Power Integrations announced that it has won a verdict in its patent-infringement lawsuit against Fairchild Semiconductor. A jury found that Fairchild has willfully infringed all four Power Integrations patents asserted in the case, and has awarded Power Integrations damages of approximately $34 million.

A second trial, scheduled to begin on Dec. 4, will be on the validity of the Power Integrations patents being asserted. The patents are presumed to be valid, and Fairchild cannot prevail unless it proves the patents are invalid by clear and convincing evidence. Should Fairchild be unable to prove the patents invalid, Power Integrations intends to seek an injunction against the continued manufacture, importation and sale of the infringing parts, as well as enhancement of the damages award based on the jury's finding of willful infringement.

Fairchild shared that it will prevail in the patent infringement lawsuit brought by Power Integrations, despite the jury verdict. The company said that it was disappointed by the verdict in the first phase, but that it has yet to present all of its defenses to Power Integrations' claims. The company believes that Power Integrations' patent claims are invalid, and its invalidity defenses have yet to be heard by a jury.

Final resolution is not expected until 2007.