The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has launched an audio patent investigation against Samsung, Apple, and Google

On September 16, local time, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) announced that it has launched a patent infringement investigation into certain electronic devices equipped with specific audio technology. The subjects of the investigation include Samsung Electronics and its U.S. subsidiaries, Apple Inc., and Google LLC. The initiation of the investigation itself does not constitute a determination of patent infringement.

The investigation is based on a complaint submitted by BoomCloud 360 Inc. on August 14 and supplemented on August 31. The complainant alleges that the relevant devices infringe its patents when imported into and sold in the United States, violating Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, and requests that the ITC issue a limited exclusion order and a cease-and-desist order.

The case will be assigned to an administrative law judge for a hearing on the evidence, which will make a preliminary determination on whether Section 337 has been violated, followed by a final decision after review by the ITC. The ITC will set a target date for completing the investigation within 45 days of the filing. The relief order will take effect immediately and become a final order after 60 days, unless the U.S. Trade Representative disapproves it for policy reasons within 60 days.