The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has become an increasingly popular venue for patent complaints, allowing patent trolls to exploit the loopholes in ITC practice for financial gains. Unless the ITC’s statute or practice adjusts to better reflect the realities of modern products and innovation in a global economy, consumers could face drastically fewer choices […]
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ITC Decision Could Cost Consumers a Billion Dollars
ACI filed comments with the ITC in connection with a trade dispute that could block the sale of popular TVs in the U.S. ACI estimates excluding these products will increase market prices and reduce consumer welfare by $1 billion. You can read the filing here.
THE HILL: ITC’s Flexible Enforcement May Protect Consumers and Markets
In recent years, an increasing number of cases have been brought before the International Trade Commission (ITC) that may not warrant the agency’s remedy or even review. Increasingly, ITC complaints are leveraged as an end-run around the U.S. District Courts for plaintiffs seeking to enhance their negotiating position. In addition, the solitary remedy available to […]
Qualcomm Effort to Preserve Monopoly Jeopardizes Consumer Broadband Benefits
One particular issue that threatens to delay consumers’ access to 5G is a patent dispute between Qualcomm, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cellular chips, and Apple. Qualcomm claims that some functions of Apple’s smartphones equipped with Intel chips infringe on its patents and has asked the International Trade Commission (ITC) to ban imports […]
Daily Caller: Decision Looms on Boeing’s Anti-Consumer Scheme
Last summer, many of us criticized Boeing for acting in ways antithetical to the interests of consumers with its flimsy trade complaint to the International Trade Commission (ITC) against Canada’s Bombardier. Boeing claimed that Delta’s selection of the new C Series passenger planes made by Bombardier was priced too cheaply and it represented unfair competition. […]
Daily Caller: ITC Could Make Smartphones A Lot More Expensive
Qualcomm has asked the International Trade Commission (ITC) to halt the importation of some Apple smartphones that use the chips of its competitors. The issue stems from a patent dispute between Qualcomm, a maker of baseband processor chipsets used in many popular electronic devices, and Apple, a manufacturer of these devices. Now, a new report […]
ITC Decision Could Be Costly for Consumers
Consumers are at risk of paying higher prices for smartphones because of a potential shortage that could hit the market, if the International Trade Commission (ITC) decides to block the importation of some popular devices. Out latest ConsumerGram explores how an importation ban of certain Apple smartphones will affect competition, increase market concentration and lead […]
Forbes: Qualcomm vs. The Facts
The events of this year suggest that the antitrust hammer may finally be dropping on Qualcomm, which is good news for just about everyone else, particularly consumers. However, if you ask Qualcomm, they will tell you that the longstanding objections to their business practices from a diverse set of credible sources and institutions are all […]
Huffington Post — Will Smartphone Prices Being Going Up?
As consumers open their wallets to buy the latest and greatest smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices, they may not realize that bad actors in the patent space are inflating the price of these devices, and costs could soon be going up, if Qualcomm gets its way. Earlier this month, Qualcomm filed a complaint with […]
The Hill: Congressional Leaders Unite to Protect Consumers
The Wall Street Journal recently published a story by Greg Ip about the decline of American innovation that explained how the United States is running out of “big ideas.” Let us hope that is not the case. Historically, innovation has been a main driver of the American economy with manifold benefits for consumers. If American […]