ASMedia Offices Raided over USB 3.0 Controller Design Infringement Allegations

Stefan Mileschin · 4th September 2012, 08:48

Offices of semiconductor company ASMedia were raided by law enforcement agencies in Taiwan, late last month, over allegations of intellectual property (IP) theft of physical-layer component (PHY) design of USB 3.0 host controllers. While the agencies did not disclose who is behind the allegations, it is rumored to be VIA, which sells USB 3.0 host, hub, and device controllers under the VIA Labs Inc (VLI) brand. Many of ASMedia's engineers are former employees of VIA, who are believed to have trafficked its IP over to their new employers.

Following the raid, ASMedia president Lin Che-wei held a press-conference in Taipei, announcing full cooperation with the authorities over the investigation. It remains to be seen how the investigation affects supplies of ASMedia's USB 3.0 controllers. A PC motherboard maker we spoke with expressed concern over the developments.

http://www.techpowerup.com/171597/AS...legations.html

4th September 2012, 08:48	#1
Stefan Mileschin [M] Reviewer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Romania Posts: 40,321	ASMedia Offices Raided over USB 3.0 Controller Design Infringement Allegations Offices of semiconductor company ASMedia were raided by law enforcement agencies in Taiwan, late last month, over allegations of intellectual property (IP) theft of physical-layer component (PHY) design of USB 3.0 host controllers. While the agencies did not disclose who is behind the allegations, it is rumored to be VIA, which sells USB 3.0 host, hub, and device controllers under the VIA Labs Inc (VLI) brand. Many of ASMedia's engineers are former employees of VIA, who are believed to have trafficked its IP over to their new employers. Following the raid, ASMedia president Lin Che-wei held a press-conference in Taipei, announcing full cooperation with the authorities over the investigation. It remains to be seen how the investigation affects supplies of ASMedia's USB 3.0 controllers. A PC motherboard maker we spoke with expressed concern over the developments. http://www.techpowerup.com/171597/AS...legations.html

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nominet embroiled in report fixing allegations	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	20th August 2012 06:21
Mums react to VTech sweatshop toy allegations	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	3rd July 2012 07:21
Fractal Design Launches New Fan Controller, the Adjust108	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	11th May 2012 08:42
ASMedia Readies Controllers for Thunderbolt Devices	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	3rd April 2012 07:05
Intel Responds to AMD, NVIDIA USB 3.0 Allegations	jmke	WebNews	5	14th August 2008 00:31
NVIDIA Responds To GPU PhysX Cheating Allegations	Massman	WebNews	4	26th June 2008 09:36
Intel offices raided by European Commission	Sidney	WebNews	0	12th July 2005 18:20
ATI Responds to Allegations in PCI Express Incompatibility	jmke	WebNews	0	26th September 2004 21:34
Microsoft's Korean offices raided	Sidney	WebNews	0	13th June 2004 07:39