InterDigital claims Samsung infringing on 3G patents

InterDigital Communications Corp. is trumpeting a complaint against Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., alleging to the United States International Trade Commission that the Korean phone maker has engaged in unfair trade practices by importing handsets into the U.S. that infringe on three of InterDigital’s 3G patents.
Interdigital has also filed a patent infringement complaint in U.S. District Court in Delaware focused on the three W-CDMA patents cited in the ITC complaint.
Samsung’s corporate policy is to not comment on litigation involving the company.
InterDigital seeks an exclusion order that would bar importation of or further U.S. sales of the handsets identified in the company’s complaint, which includes Samsung’s BlackJack (sold by Cingular Wireless) and models SGH-ZX20 and SGH-A707.
The two companies clearly remain in dispute on the merits of InterDigital’s claims, as a judgment in InterDigital’s favor last year by the International Chamber of Commerce’s Arbitral Tribunal has been challenged by Samsung. The ICC had awarded InterDigital $134 million in past royalties owed under the two parties’ 1996 patent license agreement, plus interest. A ruling is pending.