ITC Judge says SiRF GPS chips violate patents, recommends import ban

It looks like U.S. International Trade Commission judge Carl Charneski has managed to cause quite a stir in the GPS industry this month, with him first ruling earlier this month that chipmaker SiRF infringed on six of Broadcom's GPS patents, and him now recommending that the ITC issue an all out product import ban on products using the offending chips. Given that one of the supposedly infringing chips is the ever-present SiRF Star III, that would obviously shake things up in a pretty big way. A final decision on a ban won't come until December, however, and SiRF looks to be exploring all of its options in the meantime, including asking the U.S. Patent Office for reexamination of the contested patents. As Reuters reports though, that hasn't stopped SiRF's shares from falling 24 percent to an all time low on Tuesday, and at least one GPS device manufacturer doesn't look to be waiting around to see how things shake out either, with DigiTimes now reporting that Mitac is set to stop using SiRF chips in its GPS devices in the fourth quarter of this year. Then again, that is DigiTimes, but we doubt that'll be much consolation for SiRF right about now.

Read - Reuters, "SiRF hit after ITC judge urges product import ban"
Read - DigiTimes, "Mitac to give up SiRF GPS solutions due to patent dispute"

[Via Linux Devices]

[Bryan Thornsberry @ Aug 28th 2008 12:56PM]

SiRFS up!

... for these guys...

[phanbouy @ Aug 28th 2008 1:23PM]

Bryan's berrys have thorns

for these ladies...

[Jason @ Aug 28th 2008 1:28PM]

Him now recommending new course in engrish.

[StreetStealth @ Aug 28th 2008 1:43PM]

So basically they're accusing the SiRF of being a KIRF?

[Dee @ Aug 28th 2008 1:17PM]

Although I agree some patents are necessary, most technological one's just limit the innovation of said technology. Sure someone invented or discovered how to do it first, but that puts a limitation on how it can be improved upon for the benefit of us the consumers. The possibility that two people on different sides of the globe think of solving an issue in a similar way is highly probable. Should now prevent the others idea from reaching consumers because it infringes on another's?

[Scott @ Aug 28th 2008 1:19PM]

Hilarious... I used to work for Global Locate, which is the comapny that Broadcomm aquired. There was talk of suing Sirf in those days over IP that we had. Unfortunately, we were a little too small at the time. Not anymore! This is related to A-GPS technology, LTO (long term orbit) calculations and some other things. Glad it's finally coming to fruition.

[Dan @ Aug 28th 2008 1:36PM]

Then why didn't Broadcomm do anything with the technology? Imagine if consumers had to wait for years for Broadcomm to finally roll out GPS chips. The industry would be a couple of years behind where it is now.

[jalapeno @ Aug 28th 2008 2:07PM]

I think Garmin has already stopped using SIRF chips in their newer model GPSs. I was surprised when I found that out, but reading this makes it all much crearer.

[Rob @ Aug 28th 2008 3:01PM]

This could effect more then just handheld GPS devices. Think about cars with integrated GPS, or other devices. What GPS chip does apple use in the iPhone 3G?

[geognerd @ Aug 28th 2008 5:45PM]

The iPhone 3G uses the Hammerhead II GPS receiver developed by Global Locate (now Broadcom) and Infineon.

[Peter F @ Aug 28th 2008 3:53PM]

good thing I just got my USGlobalSat BU-353 last week! It sports that III chipset!! By the way, that chipset is absolutely amazing. If I remember correctly it uses normal GPS, Aviation GPS, and cell towers. I haven't lost signal on it yet!

[Johan S @ Aug 28th 2008 3:55PM]

Ouch.

Fucking patents.

[nathan.wong @ Aug 28th 2008 4:44PM]

It appears that Garmin will be in trouble.

[Grant @ Aug 28th 2008 5:24PM]

too bad SiRF chips seem to work the best.
My GPS guidance gets signal in ~30 seconds thanks to it.

[tekdroid @ Aug 28th 2008 10:02PM]

much love for unassisted SiRF III performance.

[thedesolate1 @ Aug 28th 2008 11:38PM]

It seems the U.S is doomed to be behind the rest of the world in technology because of corporate greed. Its bad enough our internet is slow and we don't get the best cell phones through our carriers and a lose out on a slew of wireless standards and devices available elsewhere.

[Cassini @ Aug 29th 2008 2:39AM]

I love how patents determine what technology we get. Stupid government.