Patent trolls are companies or individuals who engage in the mass registration of new patents and the purchase of existing patents in order to gain more from them. They do not independently use the technologies they own, they rent them out. Often, such companies or individuals sue large corporations, demanding money for the use of this or that development.

Samsung and TSMC go to court

The lawsuit was filed by Daedalus Prime LLC in September 2022. It was announced that there was another complaint made separately and related to chip manufacturer Qualcomm.

• The main complaint is with Samsung’s 14 nanometer and newer chips and TSMC’s 16 nanometer and newer chips.
• The investigation will also affect smartphones, tablets and smartwatches using the relevant chips.
• As for Qualcomm, it’s unclear which of its chips is on the list of candidates for the ban.

According to the sources, the allegations are related to some Intel technologies whose rights were previously acquired by Daedalus Prime. Plaintiff requests that Samsung and TSMC be prevented from importing and selling all goods related to the infringement of patent rights set forth in the complaint.

Presumably, companies will agree to pay royalties for use of the technology. But if it fails to do so, all three manufacturers will face a ban on electronic imports into the US.