IC Maker Disputes Claim of Patent Infringement

In the wake of the patent-infringement lawsuit filed against it recently by Fairchild Semiconductor (www.fairchildsemi.com), Power Integrations (www.powerint.com) has responded that it was first to invent the technology that is the subject of the lawsuit and that the lawsuit is without merit. (see, “ Lawsuit Claims Patent Infringement by PWM Chips,” PETech Times April 12, 2006.)

Power Integrations also notes that it does not expect Fairchild’s suit to have any impact on its own patent-infringement lawsuit against Fairchild, initiated in October 2004 and currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. That case is expected to go to trial during the third quarter of 2006.

"We initiated litigation against Fairchild in 2004 because we believe they are infringing on several of our patents, and we remain confident that we will prevail in that case," said Balu Balakrishnan, president and CEO of Power Integrations. "In fact, the filing of this suit by Fairchild - eighteen months later and in a different venue - may indicate a lack of confidence in their defenses, especially in light of the recent claim-construction ruling by the judge in the Delaware case."