Broadcom wins SiRF patent spat

SiRF Technology has lost its patent case against Broadcom-owned Global Locate

The US International Trade Commission has rejected claims by SiRF Technology that two of its GPS patents were infringed by Global Locate, a company acquired by Broadcom last year.

ITC Administrative Law Judge Paul Luckern issued his Initial Determination late last week.

Broadcom acquired Global Locate to get its hands on a GPS semiconductor developer.

"We are extremely pleased by Judge Luckern's findings that we did not infringe on SiRF's GPS patents, and we look forward to Judge Charneski's decision in our case against SiRF," said David Rosmann, vice president for intellectual property litigation at Broadcom.

Broadcom made its own claims against SiRF last April. An initial determination in that case, heard before Administrative Law Judge Carl Charneski, is expected by 8 August.

"We filed our May lawsuit after numerous good faith attempts by Broadcom to resolve the patent disputes between us and SiRF earlier this year," said Rosmann.

"Prior to the ITC hearings, we were optimistic that we would be able to cooperatively resolve our disputes.

"However, as that prospect dimmed, we moved forward with additional steps to protect our intellectual property rights. We remain open to reaching a mutually acceptable resolution in these disputes."