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University of Wisconsin sues Samsung

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics Co, the world's largest maker of computer memory chips, has been sued by the University of Wisconsin for allegedly infringing its patent in the process of making semiconductors, a news report said on Wednesday.

According to Bloomberg News, the American university claimed Samsung Electronics infringed its patent for an invention that prevents conductive metals from leaching into the silicon used to make chips.

The university urged Samsung Electronics to sign a licensing contract for the patent and pay a reasonable royalty rate.

Last month, Infineon Technologies AG, Europe's second-largest computer chip-maker, filed a lawsuit asking a court to rule it doesn't have to pay royalties to the university, the report said.

Samsung Electronics denied any wrongdoing. "We didn't infringe the patent owned by the University of Wisconsin. We will take an appropriate step to cope with the suit," a Samsung Electronics official said.

(Asia Pulse/Yonhap)

May 6, 2004

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