The United States International Trade Commission ( USITC ) has launched a formal investigation into four patent complaint charge against Apple by computing machine graphics ironware maker S3 Graphics , which asked the agency to block Apple from import the iPhone , iPad and other products into the U.S.
The USITC on Friday announced it would look into the May 28 so - called section 337 complaint filed by S3 , base in Fremont , Calif. The complaint allege that Apple has infringed four S3 patent related to electronic devices with figure of speech processing systems and related software . The letters patent involve image compression and decompressing software , and Apple shell out a software development outfit with the same technology accommodate for use in its computing machine , the S3 complaint suppose .
S3 has asked the USITC to block the import of the iPod touch and the MacBook , in summation to the iPhone and iPad , harmonize to the complaint .
S3 applied for a patent for the image compression applied science in October 1997 .
From that app program , the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issue four patents : No . 7,043,087 , for an image processing system , issued in May 2006 ; No . 6,775,417 , for fixed - rate , block - based ikon compression with infer pixel values , issue in August 2004 ; No . 6,683,978 , also for fix - rate , block - found effigy densification with understand pixel values , come out in January 2004 ; and No . 6,658,146 , also for fixed - rate look-alike compressing , come forth in December 2003 .
U.S. company alleging patent infringement by challenger often file section 337 complaints in add-on to filing lawsuit . Many discussion section 337 complaints result in a settlement .
Apple has been postulate in a serial of patent disputes with competitors in late months , both as the company originating the ailment and as the company accused of infringing patents . Apple and smartphone manufacturing business HTC have accuse each other of patent infraction , and the USITC in May announce it would enquire Eastman Kodak after Apple file away a complaint about patents relating to digital tomography devices and package .
