IBM starts patent dispute over power, cooling and clustering technology

IBM has filed a patent infringement complaint with the US International Trade Commission against ASUSTeK over power, cooling and clustering technology for PCs, servers, routers and other kit.

The IBM complaint is against the Taiwanese firm and its North American subsidiary, which imports products into the US.

IBM has asked the ITC to block the importation of products that allegedly infringe IBM patents. IBM wants the ITC to force ASUSTek to license its technology if it wants to use it.

The US ITC is an independent federal agency with authority to bar the importation of products that infringe US patents.

The specific patents asserted in the IBM complaint are:

1. US Patent No. 5,008,829: personal computer power supply

2. US Patent No. 5,249,741: automatic fan speed control

3. US Patent No. 5,371,852: method and apparatus for making a cluster of computers appear as a single host on a network