SigmaTel responds to petition filed by Actions Semiconductor
SigmaTel, Inc has commented on a press release issued by Actions Semiconductor concerning Actions' latest attempt to invalidate two SigmaTel patents.
"Throughout the ITC proceeding, Actions claimed that two of SigmaTel's patents were invalid. In addition, Actions had every opportunity to raise its invalidity arguments in the ITC proceeding," stated Ron Edgerton, chairman and chief executive officer of SigmaTel. "Yet, an administrative law judge and the full International Trade Commission found that SigmaTel's patents were not invalid but were infringed. The ITC also largely agreed with SigmaTel's claim interpretation. I believe that Actions' latest maneuvers are simply Actions wanting to have another bite at the apple."
With respect to the patent infringement lawsuits Actions has brought against SigmaTel in China, SigmaTel notes that it still has not been served with the complaint and its knowledge of the details of the lawsuit is limited.
Edgerton added, "Despite not being served with a copy of the complaint, we have been investigating Actions patent - which concerns a digital to analogue conversion circuit (DAC)," stated Ron Edgerton. "Our preliminary reaction to this patent is that we do not infringe because we are not using the circuit described by the claims in the patent. In addition, the accused DAC found in our 3500 products is very similar to the same circuit found in our 3400 products, which were in production prior to the filing date of Actions' patent. I also note that, to our knowledge, Actions has not made public any evidence to back up its claims of infringement. In sum, I believe that Actions' lawsuit and its initiation of a reexamination procedure are merely an attempt to regain some credibility in the marketplace with respect to its intellectual property situation."
