IBM Files ITC Complaint Against Asus

IBM has filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission, alleging Asus products infringe on three IBM patents.

Technology giant IBM has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Taiwanese computer maker Asustek, alleging products the company imports into the United States infringe on three IBM patents. IBM saysit has repeatedly tried to come to licensing terms with Asus, but the companies have failed to reach an agreement. IBM is asking the ITC to bar Asus from importing infringing products into the United States.

The three patents (5,008,829, 5,249,741, and 5,371,852 cover aspects of computer power supplies, fan speed control, and cluster computing.

“IBM’s position has been—and remains—that ASUSTeK either must license or stop using IBM’s patented technology,” said the company in a statement.

The complaint comes just as Asus is seeing unanticipated success in the United States with its ultra-mobile Eee PC, which features a 7-inch screen and can run either Linux or Windows XP. Asus recently says it believes it will sell 3.8 million units of the Eee. If IBM’s complaint to the ITC covers the Eee and the ITC were to ban imports into the United States, the move could come as a significant blow to Asus.