From X-bit Labs: Via Technologies, a designer of core-logic sets, controllers and application processors, on Tuesday said that it had filed a civil suit in the Taipei District Court seeking damages of at least NT$4.137 billion (US$138 million) from Asustek Computer and its subsidiary Asmedia Technology. Via accuses Asus and Asmedia of using its IP while developing USB 3.0 chips.
The lawsuit is being filed to recover the losses incurred as a result of the alleged misappropriation of Via intellectual property related to USB technology. Earlier the Taiwan Prosecutor decided to pursue criminal proceedings against a subsidiary of Asustek Computer and four of that subsidiary’s employees for the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets from Via Technologies. Also named in the suit are Asmedia chairman Jerry Shen, Asmedia president Lin Chewei, and other Asmedia employees involved in the case.
“As a long-time leader in IC design and technology innovation, VIA strongly believes in the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. In addition to protecting interests of VIA and our shareholders, the aim of this suit is to ensure our industry operates in a healthy market environment that fosters innovation and promotes fair competition,” commented Wenchi Chen, CEO of Via Technologies.
On 8 November 2013, the Taiwan Prosecutor decided to pursue criminal proceedings against Asmedia and four employees, including Chang Chi, VP of R&D, after the conclusion of its investigation into the alleged misappropriation of Via’s trade secrets, as well as violation of Copyright Act. In addition to seeking damages, Via is also requesting the court to instruct Asmedia to cease the production and sales of the allegedly infringing products.
The lawsuit alleges that a former Via executive, Chewei Lin, left Via in 2007 and joined Asmedia (controlled by Asus Group), taking dozens of Via employees with him, and also Via’s intellectual property related to USB technology, including host controllers and device controllers. Those products are used in many computing and consumer electronics products, including PCs, external hard disk drives, and peripheral devices. Asustek Computer is the largest single purchaser of Asmedia USB products.
Prior to that, Asmedia had no expertise in the USB field, according to the lawsuit. Given the complexity and legacy USB 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0 IP required for the development of USB 3.0 chips, the Taiwan Prosecutor concluded in the criminal case filing that “it is extremely difficult to develop and take such chips into mass production in such a short time frame [of one year].”
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