Macronix Files Additional Patent Infringement Complaints with USITC Against Spansion and Its Customers, and Seeks Exclusion Order as well as Cease and Desist Orders

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Jul 01, 2014, 12:10 ET

HSINCHU, July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Macronix International Co., Ltd. (TSE: 2337) and Macronix America, Inc., global leaders in non-volatile memory solutions, announced that they have filed a new patent infringement complaint against Spansion, Inc., Spansion LLC, Spansion (Thailand) Ltd. and certain of their customers with the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") for infringement of four Macronix patents covering separate aspects of non-volatile memory devices, including flash memory. The named respondents include Aerohive Networks, Inc., Allied Telesis, Inc., Ciena Corporation, Delphi Automotive PLC and Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC, Polycom, Inc., Ruckus Wireless, Inc., ShoreTel Inc., Tellabs, Inc. and/or Tellabs North America, Inc., and TiVo Inc. Macronix has taken this step to address Spansion's rampant infringement of Macronix's patent rights as well as the infringement that arises when Spansion's customers import products containing infringing Spansion's devices, including Spansion flash memory devices, into the United States.

Over the past 25 years, Macronix has invested heavily in the research and development of non-volatile memory technology. As a result of those investments, Macronix has been granted more than 5,400 patents world-wide and more than 2,100 in the United States. In a 2011 analysis conducted by The Patent Board, Macronix ranked 18th worldwide, and first in Taiwan for patent strength in the semiconductor industry.

The four Macronix patents-in-suit relate to non-volatile memory technology and devices. In its complaint, Macronix requests that the ITC issues an exclusion order barring Spansion's infringing devices or products containing such components from further importation into the United States. Macronix also requests that the ITC issues a general exclusion order to prevent other unidentified parties from importing products containing infringing Spansion devices into the United States. In addition, Macronix is requesting that the ITC issue cease and desist orders prohibiting further commerce in the United States involving infringing Spansion memory devices.

This additional complaint follows a first ITC complaint, that was filed in December 2013 and that will be determined in January, 2015, in which Macronix asserted three patents against Spansion. In addition, Macronix has a seven-patent infringement litigation pending against Spansion in the United States District Court. Macronix also has pending actions at the U.S. Patent Office to invalidate Spansion's patents asserted in an earlier-filed ITC case. The investigations of the above have been initiated respectively by the courts and/or authorities and the decisions will be available in the early part of 2015. Macronix is confident in those actions and will continue to vigorously defend its valuable intellectual property rights.

About Macronix International Co., Ltd.

Macronix, a leading integrated device manufacturer in the Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) market, provides a full range of NOR Flash, NAND Flash, and ROM products. With its world-class R&D and manufacturing capability, Macronix continues to deliver high-quality, innovative and performance driven products to its customers in the consumer, communication, computing, automotive, networking and other segment markets.

For more information, please visit the Macronix's website: www.macronix.com

Media Contact:
Michelle Chang
Deputy Director
Corporate Communication Office
Macronix International Co., Ltd.
TEL: +886-3-578-6688 ext. 71233
FAX: +886-3-666-3169
Mobile: +886-933310870
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Macronix