TSE, a semiconductor test component company, announced on the 24th that it won the first trial in a patent lawsuit filed by its competitor ISC. As ISC has set out to respond immediately by appealing, the patent dispute continued between the two companies for five years is expected to prolong.

Photo Image

The 61st Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of TSE in the first trial lawsuit for the prohibition of patent infringement and damages for the 'test socket with columnar particles' filed against ISC TSE. The court ruled the TSE semiconductor test socket was not patent infringement, stating that the conductive particle arrangement was different from that of the IC patent.

After packaging, semiconductor chip is plugged into a test socket to be tested for chip performance and stability. TSE and ISC have commercialized a rubber socket that is advantageous for high-speed semiconductor testing without damaging the semiconductor package. In 2016, ISC filed a lawsuit claiming that TSE had infringed on 5 patents, including the 'test socket with columnar particles', and this spurred the dispute between the two companies.

TSE filed a counter-litigation claiming that the patent was invalid. Although the Supreme Court ruled that 3 of the IC patents were invalid and one of the IC patents was withdrawn at the end of last year, it recognized the test socket patent with columnar particles. ISC claims that the patent is the core technology of its silicon rubber type test socket.

In 2017, ISC also applied for an 'Investigation of Unfair Trade Practices of Patent Infringement' with the Trade Committee of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In 2018, the Trade Commission decided that it did not infringe patents, stating that “TSE’s manufacturing does not fall under unfair trade practices of the relevant law.”

A TSE official said, "Although TSE respects the legitimate intellectual property rights of others, we must resolutely respond to acts that impede competition in good faith. We plan to actively exercise the rights of our patents to protect our flagship product business and maximize shareholder profits."

After the ruling of the first trial, ISIS’s stance is to immediately appeal. Accordingly, patent dispute litigation is expected to continue in the High Court. Recognized for test socket patent with columnar particles last year, ISC plans to prove technology progress and protect patent rights through appeals.

An ISC official said, "We cannot understand the court's ruling of not recognizing patent infringement while acknowledging patentability. We plan to respond strategically so we can win the final victory.”

By Staff Reporter Dongjun Kwon djkwon@etnews.com