BRIEF: Hisense accused of patent infringement by U.S. firm

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has launched a patent infringement investigation into certain display devices, streaming players and components made by Hisense (0921.HK; 600060.SH) in response to a complaint filed by Las Vegas-based InnoTV Labs LLC, according to an announcement on April 1.

The complaint, first filed on March 2 and updated on March 17, also alleges patent infringement against streaming platform Roku Inc. (ROKU.US), according to the announcement. Hisense is already subject to another similar complaint filed last November related to some of its liquid crystal display devices.

All of the complaints are filed under Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930, which allows U.S. companies to seek punitive import tariffs on products that they allege use their patented technology without their authorization. Such investigations are relatively common, with other Chinese companies like Lenovo and Huawei also frequently subject to similar complaints.

Hisense’s Hong Kong-listed shares are down about 13% this year.

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