Asus fends off bid to ban US laptop imports in Lenovo patent dispute
Lenovo has accused Asus' computers of infringing patents related to wireless communications, diagonal touchpad scrolling and other technology. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Asus fends off bid to ban US laptop imports in Lenovo patent dispute
WASHINGTON - Taiwanese electronics maker Asus on June 20 defeated rival Lenovo's bid to block American imports of Asus' Zenbook laptops and other computers as part of a patent dispute between the two companies.
The ruling by the US International Trade Commission was a defeat for Hong Kong-based Lenovo in a patent fight with Asus that extends to California federal court and Europe's Unified Patent Court.
Lenovo has accused Asus' computers of infringing patents related to wireless communications, diagonal touchpad scrolling and other technology.
The commission's order on June 20, which upheld an ITC judge's preliminary decision from February, can be appealed to the Washington-based US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Spokespeople for Lenovo and Asus did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision.
Lenovo, the world's largest PC maker, sued Asus in San Jose, California, and at the ITC in 2023, alleging that technology in Asus' Zenbook Pro and Zenbook Flip 14 laptops infringed a variety of its patents.
Lenovo asked the California court for an unspecified amount of monetary damages, including lost profits and royalties, and an order permanently blocking the alleged infringement.
The California lawsuit was paused during the ITC proceedings. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
20 minutes ago
- Business Times
Japanese megabanks weigh Middle East evacuations, JPMorgan limits travel
[TOKYO/NEW YORK] Several major Japanese banks are considering evacuating staff from the Middle East and Wall Street giant JPMorgan has restricted employee travel in the region as tensions escalate. The US entered the war against Iran over the weekend with strikes against three key nuclear sites, joining Israel's military campaign to cripple Teheran's nuclear capabilities. Iran has vowed to retaliate. On Monday, Israel struck Evin prison in northern Teheran, a potent symbol of Iran's governing system, in what Israel called its most intense bombing yet of the Iranian capital. The war threatens years of effort by Middle Eastern governments to court global financial firms as part of plans to diversify their economies away from oil. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pushed to position themselves as regional financial hubs, offering incentives and regulatory reforms to attract banks and asset managers. Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group has begun evacuating staff from locations including Iran and Qatar to ensure their safety, a spokesperson said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up US-based JPMorgan is allowing only essential travel in and out of the Middle East for employees, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday (Jun 23). The largest US bank is offering support to employees on an individual basis, as needed, the source added, requesting anonymity discussing confidential information. Goldman Sachs had asked its staff in Israel to work remotely about a week ago, according to a source familiar with the matter. Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has begun evacuating some family members of staff from Dubai and the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, a spokesperson said, and is also considering allowing staff to leave at their own discretion. Ang Wee Khoon, head of risk management at the DIFC branch of Bank of Singapore, one of Asia's biggest private banks, told Reuters the bank has halted all non-essential travel to and from Dubai. 'The safety of our staff is our highest priority, and we stand ready to activate our business continuity plans while minimising the disruptions to clients,' Ang said. Mizuho Financial Group is urging its staff to be cautious and is considering measures including evacuations, a spokesperson said. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Greenpeace joins protests against gala Jeff Bezos wedding in Venice
A large banner against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos lies on the ground, placed by Greenpeace Italy activists along with others in St. Mark's Square. PHOTO: REUTERS VENICE - Global environmental lobby Greenpeace added its voice on June 23 to protests against this week's celebrity wedding in Venice between American tech billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Laura Sanchez. The event, expected to attract some 200 guests including US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as scores of stars from film, fashion and business, has been dubbed "the wedding of the century". But some locals see the celebration as the latest sign of the brash commodification of a beautiful but fragile city that has long been overrun with tourism while steadily depopulating. Activists from Greenpeace Italy and UK group "Everyone hates Elon" (Musk) unfolded a giant banner in central St Mark's Square with a picture of Mr Bezos laughing and a sign reading: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax." Local police arrived to talk to activists and check their identification documents, before they rolled up their banner. "The problem is not the wedding, the problem is the system. We think that one big billionaire can't rent a city for his pleasure," Ms Simona Abbate, one of the protesters, told Reuters. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and regional governor Luca Zaia have defended the wedding, arguing that it will bring an economic windfall to local businesses, including the motor boats and gondolas that operate its myriad canals. Mr Zaia said the celebrations were expected to cost €20 million (S$29.65 million) to €30 million. Mr Bezos will also make sizeable charity donations, including €1 million for Corila, an academic consortium that studies Venice's lagoon ecosystem, Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper and the Ansa news agency reported on June 22. Earlier in June, anti-Bezos banners were hung from St Mark's bell tower and from the famed Rialto bridge, while locals threatened peaceful blockades against the event, saying Venice needed public services and housing, not VIPs and over-tourism. The exact dates and locations of the glitzy nuptials are being kept confidential, but celebrations are expected to play out over three days, most likely around June 26-28. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
KLIA aerotrain relaunch marks step toward restoring airport reputation
– A two-minute, driverless train service at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) linking its main terminal to a satellite complex for international flights will resume operations July 1 after a nearly 2 1/2 year wait, as the country hopes to put the embarrassing episode in the rear-view mirror. The news comes as a relief for international passengers who have had to rely on shuttle buses for the 1.3-km connection, and will help repair the airport's battered reputation. But industry observers and analysts say the aerotrain service is just one of several issues that Malaysia's main airline gateway must address to improve its facilities and enhance its image, even as the global travel industry continues its post-pandemic recovery . The aerotrain service was suspended after breaking down in February 2023, forcing 114 passengers to walk along the rail track at the halfway mark between the two terminals. The main KLIA Terminal 1 houses immigration counters and is used mainly for domestic flights, while international airlines use the satellite complex. A second airline terminal called KLIA Terminal 2, located less than 2km away, is used by budget airlines. The much-anticipated resumption of the sole internal train service at the airport comes at a critical time for Malaysia, which is the chair for regional grouping Asean in 2025, and is set to host Visit Malaysia Year in 2026. The number of passengers travelling through KLIA rose 21 per cent to 57.1 million in 2024, including 41.9 million international passengers, according to global aviation and travel data services provider Centre for Aviation. The airport, which opened in 1998, had in the past been ranked among the world's top 10 airports – in 2001, 2010, 2011 and 2012 – but has slid down the list ever since. Most recently, KLIA came in at 65th place in Skytrax's World Airport Awards, trailing Singapore's Changi Airport (No. 1), Qatar's Hamad International Airport (No. 2) and Tokyo's Haneda Airport (No. 3). The awards were based on a global survey conducted by London-based aviation consultancy Skytrax. Over 13 million airport users from more than 100 countries responded to the survey from August 2024 to February 2025. A more efficient system overall including seamless passenger experience such as smooth inter-terminal transfers, biometric boarding, and faster baggage handling, is essential for KLIA to rebuild trust among travellers and remain competitive, analysts say. Analyst Shukor Yusof, founder of Singapore-based aviation advisory firm Endau Analytics, told The Straits Times: 'KLIA was never a highly regarded international airport to begin with. The (aerotrain) suspension only served to highlight the airport's sloppy and shabby management and operations.' The aerotrain service breakdown in 2023 breakdown damaged KLIA's image as a world-class airport, said Mr Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, analyst and founder of transport think tank MY Mobility Vision. 'Passengers walking along the track after a breakdown is not the image we want to project to the world,' he told ST. The stopgap measure , deploying shuttle buses to ferry travellers between the two KLIA buildings, is 'slower, less predictable, and more stressful for passengers,' he added. Transport Minister Anthony Loke, speaking at a press conference at KLIA on June 21, said the current shuttle bus system will operate concurrently to facilitate better passenger movement 'to ensure all passenger movement at KLIA runs smoothly.' 'If everything goes well, it (aerotrain service) will begin operations at 10am on July 1,' he declared. Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke (foreground) taking a test ride on KLIA's new aerotrain during a media preview on June 21. PHOTO: MALAYSIAN MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT Travellers who spoke to ST say they are looking forward to the resumption of the train service. 'With the aerotrain, it is easier... The bus can be inconvenient. I have to carry my bags up and down,' said corporate communications director A. Abdullah , 50, a Malaysian who travels frequently for work. Singaporean business consultant M. Selvaduray, 55, who travels to Malaysia around four times a year for work, said that taking the shuttle bus at KLIA is not a pleasant experience. ' When I arrive at Singapore's Changi Airport, I'm already at the arrival gate and then I go straight for (immigration) clearance. It's very fast. At KLIA, it's quite a distance to walk (to get to the shuttle buses) . It's not seamless. The signage is also unclear. For an international airport, I would expect more,' he told ST. Mr Loke said that there are currently three aerotrain sets, with two trains to run concurrently while one remains on standby. The new trains from China cost RM456 million (S$137 million), and each train can carry 270 passengers, from 230 previously. The replacement project has faced several delays, with all three deadlines previously given – July 2024, end-January 2025 and March 2025 – going unmet, according to the airport operator. The aerotrain replacement project had faced several delays, partly caused by the termination of the aerotrain contract with a previous contractor and the appointment of a new one. The project is now being handled by local company IJM, with subsidiaries of French transport player Alstom and Malaysian electrical power technology company Pestech International. Though KLIA's world rankings have slipped, there are some positive signs. The airport was rated the most connected low-cost carrier hub in Asia Pacific by global travel data firm Official Airline Guide in its 2024 Megahubs Index released in September that year . This shows that 'KLIA is already showing signs of resurgence ... with passenger numbers climbing and new routes opening up ,' said Mr Wan Agyl. 'To stay competitive, especially against airports like Changi or (Seoul's) Incheon, you need reliability and efficiency built into every passenger experience,' the analyst noted , adding that this includes better systems, faster baggage handling, and digital operations . The real test will be whether KLIA can sustain improvements and provide a consistently high level of service. 'This can be a moment to show the world KLIA is back on track, literally and figuratively. But it can't be a one-off. What KLIA needs now isn't just a good comeback story, but consistent, high-performance service to match its ambitions,' Mr Wan Agyl add ed . Hazlin Hassan is Malaysia correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
