ICT favors Rambus over Nvidia

The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for an action Rambus Inc. filed with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued an Initial Determination finding Nvidia Corp. and other respondents in violation of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The ALJ determined that three of Rambus' five asserted patents are valid, enforceable, and infringed by the respondents. The ALJ also determined that there was no violation of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 for the remaining two asserted patents. The action is Investigation Number 337-TA-661.

Any of the parties may request the ITC's full Commission to review the ALJ's Initial Determination. If the Commission grants a petition for review, it may affirm, modify, reverse, set aside, or remand all or part of the ALJ's decision in developing the ITC's final determination.

"Following an extensive hearing process, we are pleased with the ALJ's determination that three of our patents are valid and infringed," said Tom Lavelle, senior VP and general counsel at Rambus. "We are obviously disappointed with the result for the other asserted patents and intend to request the Commission's review of the corresponding portions of the Initial Determination. We will continue to vigorously protect our patented inventions for the benefit of our shareholders and in fairness to our paying licensees."

Rambus filed the complaint with the ITC requesting an investigation pertaining to Nvidia products on Nov. 6, 2008. The complaint sought an exclusion order barring the importation, sale for importation, or sale after importation of products that infringe nine of Rambus' patents. The accused products are products that incorporate certain Nvidia memory controllers, including graphics processors and media and communications processors. The complaint named Nvidia as a proposed Respondent, as well as companies whose products incorporate the accused Nvidia products and are imported into the United States. These respondents include: Asustek Computer Inc. and Asus Computer International, BFG Technologies, Biostar Microtech and Biostar Microtech International Corp., Diablotek Inc., EVGA Corp., G.B.T. Inc. and Giga-Byte Technology Co., Hewlett-Packard, MSI Computer Corp. and Micro-Star International Co., Palit Multimedia Inc. and Palit Microsystems Ltd, Pine Technology Holdings Ltd and Sparkle Computer Co. Four of the asserted patents were withdrawn from the investigation. An evidentiary hearing on the remaining asserted patents was held before the ALJ on Oct. 13-20, 2009.