Kioxia owes Viasat $229 million for infringing flash-memory patents, US jury says
Kioxia owes Viasat $229 million for infringing flash-memory patents, US jury says By Blake Brittain
July 16 (Reuters) - A federal jury in Waco, Texas said on Thursday that Japanese chipmaker Kioxia 285A.T owes satellite-communications company Viasat VSAT.O $229 million for infringing a patent covering computer memory technology, according to a court document.
The jury determined that Kioxia's flash-memory devices violate Viasat's patent rights in technology that allows such devices to consume less power and improves their reliability and longevity.
Spokespeople for the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the verdict.
Carlsbad, California-based Viasat said it developed improvements to flash-memory technology – which stores data on transistors using electrical charges – while designing error-correction systems for satellites.
Viasat alleged that Kioxia's flash-memory devices include error-correction technology that works in the same way as its patented technology.
Kioxia denied the allegations and argued that the patent was invalid.
Viasat has brought similar allegations against data-storage company Western Digital WDC.O in a separate lawsuit that is still ongoing.
(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Sonali Paul)
((blake.brittain@tr.com; +1 (202) 938-5713))
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