Alleged Patent Infringement
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) decided on November 28 to investigate whether SK Hynix infringed upon the patent of Netlist with regard to memory module components such as DRAM boards, according to industry sources.
The investigation is based on the patent infringement lawsuit Netlist filed against SK Hynix in October this year. The USITC is to initiate the investigation in accordance with Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. An import ban can be implemented once the USITC determines that SK Hynix infringed on the patent of Netlist.
Earlier, Netlist claimed that RDIMM and LRDIMM, two of server memory products of SK Hynix, infringed upon its patent. However, the USITC acquitted SK Hynix in its preliminary determination.
According to industry insiders, the USITC is likely to rule in favor of SK Hynix although Netlist is continuing to claim that SK Hynix infringed upon its patent.