US International Trade Commission Clears Microsoft of Patent Infringement

Microsoft Corp avoid a potentially costly setback for its mobile phone business on Friday as the International Trade Commission of the United States refused to block the import of their devices in a patent dispute longstanding.

The decision in April rejected a ruling by a commercial court in the United States found that Microsoft had infringed on two patents InterDigital Inc wireless and recommended an import ban.

The action of the commission is good news for Microsoft, which has been struggling to compete with Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd devices. The company, based in Redmond, Washington, has captured only 3 percent of the smartphone market in the US and worldwide, according to recent estimates.


Microsoft last month reported a record quarterly loss as it took a $ 7.5 billion (about Rs. 49.614 million rupiah) charge on its mobile phone business, which Nokia bought last year.

InterDigital CEO William Merritt said in a statement that the decision was disappointing but would have a limited impact, "given the decline in business of Nokia mobile devices under the control of Microsoft and its position in the limited market".

A Microsoft spokesman said the company was "grateful to the Commission InterDigital stopped trying to block our products."

InterDigital shares was up 3 percent after hours Friday.

The two companies disagree on the amount of InterDigital should be able to charge for licensing its patents, which are considered essential for mobile technology.

InterDigital based in Wilmington Delaware, Nokia first accused in 2007 of infringing its technology to optimize the power of a cell phone to connect to a network.

In April, the trade US judge ruled that Microsoft uses patents InterDigital, considered standard in the industry, but refused to pay for a license for them. An import ban would have affected any Microsoft uses 3G mobile phone technology, including its Lumia smartphones.

After reviewing that decision, the commission on Friday that Microsoft did not violate patents, but did not address the issue of licenses for essential patents just said.

Earlier this month, Microsoft sued InterDigital in Delaware federal court, claiming InterDigital violated US antitrust laws by not keeping promises to offer licenses on reasonable terms.

Companies often demand both in the ITC, which has the authority to block imports of products that infringe US patents, and in the district court to win monetary damages