Probe opened into Freescale complaint against Panasonic

Freescale Semiconductor Inc.'s patent-infringement complaints against Panasonic Corp. and Funai Electric Co. over chips used in televisions, Blu-ray video players and cameras will be investigated by the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington.

"By instituting this investigation, the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case," the agency said in a notice posted on its Web site.

Freescale's complaint, filed March 1, claims that Panasonic, Funai and JVC Kenwood Holdings Inc., as well as retailers such as Best Buy Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., are violating Freescale's patent rights. Freescale has said it filed the complaint because the companies were unwilling to licensing Freescale patents "under reasonable terms."

The commission investigates claims of unfair trade practices, including patent-infringement. If a violation is found, the agency has the power to order U.S. customs officials to prevent products from entering the U.S. market.

"Panasonic is disappointed that its negotiations with Freescale over the last few years have not resulted in an agreement and that Freescale has chosen the litigation/ITC route over reasonable discussions," said Jim Reilly, a spokesman for Panasonic. "We are not at liberty to give details, but we can say there is more than one side to this story."

Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic is the world's largest maker of plasma televisions. Funai, also based in Osaka, and JVC Kenwood, based in Yokohama near Tokyo, both make electronics. Officials with Funai and JVC couldn't immediately be reached.

Austin, Texas-based Freescale is a spinoff of Motorola Inc. and was bought by firms led by Blackstone Group LP in 2006.

The case is In the Matter of Integrated Circuits, Chipsets and Products Containing Same including Televisions, Media Players and Cameras, 337-709, U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington).