Power Integrations (Nasdaq: POWI)
today announced that a Chinese court has ruled in the company’s favor in
infringement proceedings filed against it by Fairchild Semiconductor and
its System General subsidiary. After more than two years of litigation,
the Suzhou Intermediate Court has found that Power Integrations does not
infringe any of the patents asserted by Fairchild in the case.
The decision follows three previous findings of infringement against
Fairchild and its System General (SG) subsidiary in cases brought by
Power Integrations. In 2006, Fairchild was found in a U.S. federal
district court to infringe four Power Integrations patents, and a
permanent injunction was issued against more than 100 infringing
Fairchild products. The infringement was later found to be willful,
resulting in enhancement of the damage award, which currently stands at
$12 million; the results of that case are currently under appeal. Also
in 2006, the International Trade Commission found that SG infringed two
Power Integrations patents. Earlier this year, Fairchild was again found
to violate two of the same patents found to be infringed in the 2006
district-court decision; Power Integrations is seeking additional
damages as well as an injunction against the 75 Fairchild products
implicated in that decision.
Commented Balu Balakrishnan, president and CEO of Power Integrations:
“We are gratified that the Chinese authorities have rejected Fairchild’s
baseless claims of infringement and recognized, like others before them,
which of these two companies is the true innovator.”
About Power Integrations
Power
Integrations, Inc., is a Silicon Valley-based supplier of
high-performance electronic components used in high-voltage
power-conversion systems. The company’s integrated circuits and diodes
enable compact, energy-efficient AC-DC power supplies for a vast range
of electronic products including mobile devices, TVs, PCs, appliances,
smart utility meters and LED lights. CONCEPT IGBT drivers enhance
the efficiency, reliability and cost of high-power applications such as
industrial motor drives, solar and wind energy systems, electric
vehicles and high-voltage DC transmission. Since its introduction in
1998, Power Integrations’ EcoSmart® energy-efficiency
technology has prevented billions of dollars’ worth of energy waste and
millions of tons of carbon emissions. Reflecting the environmental
benefits of the company’s products, Power Integrations’ stock is
included in the NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy
Index, The Cleantech Index®, and the Ardour Global IndexSM.
For more information, including design-support tools and resources,
please visit www.powerint.com;
visit Power Integrations’ Green
Room for a comprehensive guide to energy-efficiency standards around
the world.
Power Integrations, EcoSmart, and the Power Integrations logo are
trademarks or registered trademarks of Power Integrations, Inc.
