The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is reportedly demanding confidential information from SK Hynix (000660) regarding high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to determine whether Samsung Electronics (005930) infringed on domestic company patents.
This request comes amid an ongoing patent lawsuit between Netlist and Samsung Electronics. Last November, Netlist filed a complaint with the ITC alleging that Samsung Electronics' HBM and DDR5 memory semiconductors infringed on its technology. Netlist also requested the ITC to issue an import exclusion order to prevent the importation of these products into the United States.
To support its claims, Netlist argued that it needed information about SK Hynix's products and investments and requested this from the ITC, which accepted the request. Industry sources said, "Disclosing business secrets externally is a significant burden for companies," adding that "the ITC's demands are excessive."
Netlist's involvement of SK Hynix in its dispute with Samsung Electronics appears to be an attempt to justify its request for import bans. The ITC verifies both patent infringement and the existence of U.S. industries utilizing domestic patents (domestic industry requirement) before issuing import bans. This is because there would be no benefit in blocking imports if there are no U.S. industries suffering damage from patent infringement.
▶ Source: https://v.daum.net/v/20260211145323907
