U.S. agency will hear Samsung patent suit

A complaint by Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s biggest maker of computer memory chips, against rival Renesas Technology Corp. over two semiconductor patents will be investigated by the U.S. International Trade Commission.
The agency said yesterday it will look into the complaint filed last month by Samsung. The company wants the agency to block Tokyo-based Renesas from importing chips into the U.S. that are found to infringe upon its U.S. patents.
Semiconductor sales have increased worldwide, led by chips used in automobiles and mobile phones. Sales will rise 10 percent to $273.8 billion this year, the San Jose, California-based Semiconductor Industry Association said in February.
Renesas, Japan’s No. 2 chipmaker, is also pursuing a patent complaint against Samsung at the commission.