[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] TSI announced on the 18th that out of four patents involved in a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Company A, three have been finally invalidated.
A company official stated, "We have taken a very favorable position in the patent infringement injunction lawsuit filed by Company A against us in April 2016," adding, "Among the five patents filed, one was voluntarily withdrawn by Company A, and among the four patents under trial, three?including the recently invalidated 'Yeonjiltanseongbu' patent?have received final invalidation rulings."
Meanwhile, the remaining patent that was not invalidated, the 'Gidunghyeong Ipja' patent, is related to a case where Company A filed a 'Patent Infringement Unfair Trade Practice Investigation' with the Trade Commission against TSI in November 2017. After a nine-month investigation, the Trade Commission ruled no infringement.
The company official explained, "As we stated during the Trade Commission investigation, the 'Gidunghyeong Ipja' patent technology is practically difficult to implement and has no technical effect, so it is understood that even the patent holder, Company A, does not use it," adding, "There is no reason for us to use a technology that the patent holder has not used for over 10 years since its application."
Although the 'Gidunghyeong Ipja' patent was not invalidated, the Trade Commission has already made a final ruling that Company A did not use the patented technology at all and thus did not infringe. The company explained that with the additional final invalidation of the 'Yeonjiltanseongbu' patent, along with the two previously invalidated patents, they are now in a favorable position in the patent infringement civil lawsuit.
A company official emphasized, "We will actively respond to the excessive patent infringement lawsuits filed by Company A, and at the same time, we will do our best to enhance the company's value by supplying products based on innovative technology to our customers."
On the other hand, Company A refutes this by claiming that sales are generated using the 'Gidunghyeong Ipja' patent technology. A representative of Company A said, "We have filed an administrative appeal against the current Trade Commission ruling, and the case is ongoing," adding, "70% of our sales are generated from processes based on this technology, which has been in use for a long time."
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