Elan Microelectronics, a Taiwanese designer of touchpad chips and modules, says it will appeal a ruling in the U.S., after an International Trade Commision judge said the company’s patent-related claim against Apple revealed no breach of trade laws, reports the IDG News Service (http://macte.ch/LyT5Z).
Elan received a notice from the U.S. commission last week of a preliminary ruling that Apple did not violate international trade laws, nor did Elan prove patent infringement, the article adds. The company “regrets” the preliminary ruling and says it will ask the International Trade Commission to review the content of the chief judge’s ruling and come out with a result favorable to it.
In March 2010 Elan asked the U.S. trade agency to ban the import and sale of some Apple products, including the iPad, because of alleged patent infringement. The company claims Apple “knowingly and deliberately” used Elan’s technology, while continuing to introduce infringing products The petition also seeks to ban imports of the iPhone and iPod touch products, Elan said in the complaint.
Elan sued Apple in April 2009 , alleging infringement of two of its touch screen patents, The lawsuit alleges that Apple products — including its MacBook, iPhone and iPod touch — use technology that infringes on two of Elan’s patents.
— Dennis Sellers