April 16, 2024
Samsung
Samsung faces patent suits from KAIST in Texas
[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics is facing a patent lawsuit from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology in the US, the institute confirmed on Nov. 30.
KAIST IP, the institute’s intellectual property management arm, said it sued Samsung Electronics, Qualcomm and Global Foundries in a Texas court, claiming they used KAIST’s chip technology without permission. Texas is where Samsung’s Austin chip plant is located.
KAIST is a state-run research institute set up in 1971 with the aim of improving research and innovation of the nation’s science and technology.
The technology at issue is FinFet, which is a key technology for making processors for smartphones. FinFet, a kind of transistor designed to improve the performance of semiconductors and reduce its power consumption. It was first developed by Lee Jong-ho, a professor of Seoul National University in partnership with KAIST.
According to KAIST IP, Samsung Electronics had in the first place ignored the technology. But, when its chip rival Intel produced its own product after obtaining licenses of the technology from KAIST, Samsung invited Lee to have a presentation about the technology in front of the company’s engineers and later developed the technology.
“Samsung was able to reduce the development time and cost by copying Lee’s invention without costs. (Samsung) has continued copying Lee’s invention without authority or proper compensation,” a KAIST IP official told The Korea Herald.
Intel is currently providing royalties to KAIST for using the patent.
Alongside Samsung Electronics, KAIST IP sued California-based semiconductor foundry Global Foundries, which is also using the technology through a license agreement with Samsung. California-based chip designer Qualcomm, a client of both Samsung and Global Foundries, is also facing a lawsuit.
It is also planning to file a lawsuit against Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC as soon as it secures evidence of patent infringement.
Samsung Electronics’ official declined to comment as the lawsuit is ongoing.
By Shin Ji-hye/The Korea Herald (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)
KAIST IP, the institute’s intellectual property management arm, said it sued Samsung Electronics, Qualcomm and Global Foundries in a Texas court, claiming they used KAIST’s chip technology without permission. Texas is where Samsung’s Austin chip plant is located.
KAIST is a state-run research institute set up in 1971 with the aim of improving research and innovation of the nation’s science and technology.
The technology at issue is FinFet, which is a key technology for making processors for smartphones. FinFet, a kind of transistor designed to improve the performance of semiconductors and reduce its power consumption. It was first developed by Lee Jong-ho, a professor of Seoul National University in partnership with KAIST.
According to KAIST IP, Samsung Electronics had in the first place ignored the technology. But, when its chip rival Intel produced its own product after obtaining licenses of the technology from KAIST, Samsung invited Lee to have a presentation about the technology in front of the company’s engineers and later developed the technology.
“Samsung was able to reduce the development time and cost by copying Lee’s invention without costs. (Samsung) has continued copying Lee’s invention without authority or proper compensation,” a KAIST IP official told The Korea Herald.
Intel is currently providing royalties to KAIST for using the patent.
Alongside Samsung Electronics, KAIST IP sued California-based semiconductor foundry Global Foundries, which is also using the technology through a license agreement with Samsung. California-based chip designer Qualcomm, a client of both Samsung and Global Foundries, is also facing a lawsuit.
It is also planning to file a lawsuit against Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC as soon as it secures evidence of patent infringement.
Samsung Electronics’ official declined to comment as the lawsuit is ongoing.
By Shin Ji-hye/The Korea Herald (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)
