ST loses $32m SiC patent case against Purdue University
Cette publication existe aussi en Français
Purdue University has won its SiC patent infringement lawsuit against STMicroelectronics.
US patent 7,498,633 covers silicon carbide (SiC) technology developed by Purdue’s James Cooper and his graduate student/postdoctoral researcher Asmita Saha.
A jury in Texas has returned a verdict in Purdue’s favour, finding that ST infringed the patent by selling infringing silicon carbide semiconductors and awarded Purdue $32.5 million in past compensatory damages, plus a running royalty on future sales.
“Winning this case is a great victory for Purdue,” said Brian Edelman, president of Purdue Research Foundation (PRF).
Purdue Research Foundation manages the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), which operates the technology transfer process. OTC vets invention disclosures from university personnel, applies for patents and other intellectual property protections, and licenses innovations to established and startup companies worldwide. In the 2022 calendar year, PRF secured 192 patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office, placing Purdue fourth among all US universities.
ST has been approached for comment but has said it plans to appeal the decision. Silicon carbide is a key part of the company’s growth plans.
“As the university’s tech transfer and commercialization arm, we take managing and protecting Purdue intellectual property very seriously, and we hold ourselves and others accountable to the highest standards. Our preference is to reach a licensing agreement, but we have a moral obligation to protect Purdue IP, and that includes going to court to defend our rights. The jury recognized this semiconductor research from Purdue researchers, and the decision is great news for the inventors, Purdue University and Purdue Research Foundation,” said Edelman.
”Purdue University is a top f patent-generating university in America. As a public land-grant institution, we support inventors and entrepreneurs to translate research to societal impact,” said Purdue President Mung Chiang. “Through programs such as Purdue Innovates, we mentor students and faculty, foster a culture of discovery, license their world-changing technologies to market and protect their intellectual property rights as needed.”
“Purdue and its people deserve the benefit of the innovation for which our university is known worldwide,” said Mitch Daniels, Purdue Research Foundation board chairman. “Our work to protect that innovation against unfair exploitation has now been vindicated. We will continue to stand by our research and the great work being done at Purdue.”
“Purdue Research Foundation has seen the worldwide impact of research created at Purdue University’s campuses, colleges and schools,” said Brooke Beier, Purdue Innovates senior vice president. “We are pleased to be partners in licensing this government-funded intellectual property to industry, so it reaches the public and impacts people’s lives.”
- ST confirms integrated SiC factory and 200mm fab in Catania
- ST teams for $3.2bn 200mm SiC fab in China
Under the Bayh-Dole Act, contractors of inventions arising from federal government-funded research, such as US universities, own, patent and commercialize inventions through licensing.
“This case is representative of the diligent efforts PRF has made to protect Purdue innovations from unauthorized use,” said Ken Waite, Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization chief patent counsel and director of intellectual property. “Because of the impact on the public and Purdue University, PRF understands the importance of investing in the process to protect Purdue intellectual property.”
The case is Purdue University v. STMicroelectronics International NV in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, No. 6:21-cv-00727.
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
