Sharp Asks ITC to Terminate Patent Infringement Probe Against Hisense TVs

Sharp wants the International Trade Commission to terminate its Tariff Act Section 337 investigation into allegations that imports of four models of 43- and 50-inch Hisense smart TVs infringe two Wi-Fi patents granted to Sharp in 2012 (see 1709280069), Sharp said in a motion (login required) filed Friday in docket 337-TA-1072. In a complaint filed Aug. 29 (see 1709050045), Sharp said Hisense is licensed to make and sell Sharp-branded smart TVs in the U.S., but Hisense also is using the same technologies to make and market smart TVs under its own brand, in violation of the Sharp patents. Hisense called the complaint part of a “scorched-earth campaign of litigation” alleging “anything and everything” in an attempt to “undo” the 2015 license agreement that gave Hisense rights to sell Sharp-branded TVs in the U.S. (see 1709160001). Sharp now wants to withdraw the complaint “in whole,” saying “good cause exists to stay” the ITC’s procedural schedule “because termination of the investigation is imminent,” in its Friday motion.