Crisis hits Asus, MSI others over optical products

[Alpine]

ZORAN SAID the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has banned the importation of Mediatek technology into the country.

The banning order includes not only Mediatek optical disk controller chip, chipset, or storage products, but storage devices containing the chips. That will have a knock on effect on major PC manufacturers.

Zoran had claimed that a patent it owned, number 6,584,527 was infringed by the Taiwanese giant. The ITC order is not limited to previous generation Mediatek products, said Zoran. It said it includes all past, current and future products which are made by Mediatek customers using the chipsets. The ITC has also banned work around chips.

According to a statement from Zoran, firms affected by the ban, which takes place immediately, include Asus, Lite-On, MSI, TEAC, Ultima Electronics and others. The firms have been issued immediate cease and desist orders by the ITC, said Zoran. The effect on distributors and dealers is bound to be widespread.


The INQuirer