(Credit: Molly Flores)
Lenovo is suing Asus for infringing four patents related to software. hardware, and connectivity used in a number of the company's laptops.
As Ars Technica reports, the four patents in question relate to minimizing the delay when uploading data wirelessly, wireless wake-on-LAN power management, diagonal scrolling on a touchpad, and a hinge mechanism that allows a 2-in-1 device to transition from a clamshell to a tablet mode.
In a press release, Lenovo claims it offered a cross-licensing deal as a possible solution to Asus, but is now taking legal action to protect, "its significant contributions to technology innovation and industry “firsts” over the past 39 years, building a portfolio of over 28,000 patents with a further 14,000 applications pending."
The lawsuit was filed on Nov. 15 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, with Lenovo being represented by global law firm DLA Piper. The company is seeking a jury trial, damages for lost profits, and for Asus to stop selling infringing products in the US. A patent infringement action has also been filed against Asus with the US International Trade Commission (ITC).
As to which of Asus' products Lenovo claims are infringing its patents, The Register reports it includes laptops, notebooks, 2-in-1 tablet computers tablets, desktop PCs, tower PCs, workstations, routers and components. Lenovo also argues the ITC should tell Asus to "cease and desist from marketing, advertising, distributing, offering for sale, selling, or otherwise transferring, including the movement or shipment of inventory" for infringing products.