SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Power Integrations (Nasdaq:POWI), the leader in high-voltage analog integrated circuits for power conversion, today announced that the judge has dismissed the patent-infringement lawsuit brought against it in April 2006 by Fairchild Semiconductor. The suit involved U.S. Patent No. 5,264,719, licensed by Fairchild from Intersil Corporation, a co-plaintiff in the case.
"Fairchild paid Intersil $1.5 million specifically for the rights to file this lawsuit against us," noted Balu Balakrishnan, president and CEO of Power Integrations. "We have contended from the beginning that this lawsuit was totally without merit, and nothing more than an attempt to distract from the fact that Fairchild has willfully infringed on our intellectual property. We are pleased that the judge has dismissed the case."
The decision follows two jury verdicts in favor of Power Integrations in litigation brought by the company against Fairchild in 2004. In October 2006 a jury found that Fairchild willfully infringed four Power Integrations patents, and awarded Power Integrations damages of approximately $34 million. In September 2007 a separate jury upheld the validity of the four infringed patents. Subsequently, Power Integrations has requested a permanent injunction against the manufacture, importation and sale of the infringing Fairchild parts. Power Integrations has also requested enhancement of the damage award based on the finding of willful infringement. Rulings on these and other post-trial motions remain pending.
About Power Integrations
Power Integrations, Inc. is the leading supplier of high-voltage analog integrated circuits used in power conversion. The company's breakthrough technology enables compact, energy-efficient power supplies in a wide range of electronic products, in both AC-DC and DC-DC applications. The company's EcoSmart(r) energy-efficiency technology, which dramatically reduces energy waste, has saved consumers and businesses around the world more than an estimated $2.6 billion on their electricity bills since its introduction in 1998. For more information, visit the company's website at www.powerint.com.