Apple hit with semiconductor tech suit in nine-patent claim – World Intellectual Property Review
The California firm is facing allegations that it stole technology for a range of its products, including the iPhone, iMac and Vision Pro | Case similar to that levelled at Samsung.
Apple is facing allegations that it is deliberately infringing a family of nine patents related to the manufacturing of semiconductor devices.
ImberaTek filed its complaint yesterday, February 5, in a Texas district court, claiming that Apple is using its patented technology without permission in products including the iPhone, iPad, Macbook, iMac and the Vision Pro.
In the suit, the Texas-based firm claims that its inventions—developed by Finnish Imbera Electronics—are “significant, groundbreaking advancements in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices”.
It further adds that its technology has “helped make it possible for many of today’s circuit boards and electronic modules to be smaller, less expensive, more reliable, more durable, and higher performing”.
Technology shrinks semiconductor products
The inventions—patented between 2009 and 2023—describe embedded electronics packaging technology and manufacturing solutions. These, says ImberaTek, improve semiconductor devices by allowing manufacturers to scale down the size of their semiconductor products.
It goes on to say that the patents are generally directed to novel and non-obvious techniques to integrate semiconductors into electronic modules, such as printed circuit boards and package substrates.
The infringement is “wilful, deliberate and intentional”, claims ImberaTek, and Apple is “acting in reckless disregard of [its] patent rights”.
The plaintiff cites, for example, a letter dated February 2020 that it sent to Apple to highlight the alleged infringement. Further letters were sent, in October and November 2021, to claim that infringement was continuing, and to express concern over particular Apple products.
ImberaTek demands a jury trial, seeking damages including treble damages, compensatory damages, and both preliminary and permanent injunctions.
The firm admits that it “does not yet know the full extent of the infringement” and that the amount of damages can only be ascertained through discovery and special accounting.
ImberaTek filed a similar complaint against Samsung in June 2022, this time involving six patents relating to the same technology, and claims of infringement in products such as its Galaxy smartphone range.
The patents at issue in the action against Apple are US patents 7,609,527; 7,732,909; 7,989,944; 8,222,723, 8,238,113; 8,368,201; 9,107,324; 11,071,207; and 11,716,816.
The complaint was filed for ImberaTek by Cherry Johnson Siegmund James, signed by partner Mark Siegmund; and Mayer Brown, including partner Cliff Maier.
Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendant.
The case is 1:24-cv-00129, Imberatek LLC v Apple Inc, filed at the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
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