One Step Closer to an Import Ban on SiRF Technology GPS Chips

Broadcom has announced that an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has recommended that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) forbid importing of chips manufactured by SiRF Technology which infringe on its patents - and all downstream products that incorporate those chips.

The affected products include personal navigation devices (PND), GPS modules and receivers, personal digital assistants (PDA), and cellular telephones. The ALJ has also recommended that the ITC enter a Cease and Desist Order prohibiting SiRF from engaging in certain activities related to the infringing chips.

The recommended remedy determination of ITC Administrative Law Judge Carl C. Charneski follows his Initial Determination earlier this month, in which he found that SiRF infringes six GPS-related patents held by Global Locate, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Broadcom. That ruling followed a trial earlier this year.

A Final Determination by the full six-person Commission on both the finding of infringement and the remedy is expected by early December.

Judge Charneski's ruling in favor of Broadcom on the infringement issue and the follow-up remedy recommendation come on the heels of a June ruling by a separate ITC judge, who rejected SiRF's allegations that Broadcom had infringed two SiRF patents.

"We believe the ALJ's remedy recommendation further confirms the strength of our intellectual property that SiRF is infringing." said David Rosmann, Broadcom's Vice President, Intellectual Property Litigation.

Posted to the site on 26th August 2008