Analogix Sues Silicon Image, Inc. for Antitrust Violations.Analogix Semiconductor Alleges Silicon Image Unlawfully Controls the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) A digital interface for audio and video signals designed as a single-cable solution for home theater and consumer electronics equipment. Market SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif. -- Analogix Semiconductor, Inc., a manufacturer and innovator of high-performance analog and mixed signal devices for the digital media and communications markets, has sued Silicon Image, Inc. and two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries - HDMI Licensing, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control , and Simplay Labs, LLC - for violating federal and state antitrust laws antitrust laws n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict business practices considered to be monopolistic or which restrain interstate commerce. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 declared illegal "every contract, combination.... and state consumer protection statutes in connection with their control over and access to the HDMI standard and HDMI testing facilities. Analogix filed the lawsuit on June 11, 2008, in federal court in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California The United States District Court for the Northern District of California is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa . In the lawsuit, Analogix seeks injunctive relief injunctive relief n. a court-ordered act or prohibition against an act or condition which has been requested, and sometimes granted, in a petition to the court for an injunction. and trebled monetary damages Monetary damages, in civil law, refers to compensation given to an injured party by a liable party. Monetary damages may be restitution, a penalty, or both. to the fullest extent allowed by law. According to the Complaint, Silicon Image has conspired to control the market for certain HDMI products and technologies that transmit digital and audio data between consumer electronic devices. Silicon Image founded the group that defines the elements of the HDMI standard and, as Analogix alleges, has used its position as a founder and manager of the HDMI standard to exclude competitors and increase prices to consumers. As alleged in the Complaint, Silicon Image has manipulated the HDMI standard to provide itself with a head start in the development of each new generation of HDMI products. And as Analogix alleged, Silicon Image's Chief Executive Officer has boasted during investor calls of the "structural advantage" Silicon Image has over the rest of the industry, which he has claimed gives his company a "six- to 12-month lead in the market." By exposing Silicon Image's anticompetitive an·ti·com·pet·i·tive adj. That discourages competition among businesses: anticompetitive foreign trade restrictions. conduct, Analogix hopes this lawsuit will bring openness and transparency to the HDMI standard-setting process and will give other HDMI solutions manufacturers equal access to new HDMI versions. Analogix's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kewei Yang, commented, "We believe Silicon Image has acted to unlawfully control the HDMI market for its own gain, and to the detriment of consumers, for far too long. The time has come to level the playing field." About Analogix Semiconductor Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. designs and manufactures high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for the digital media market. Analogix is a leader in providing semiconductor solutions for DisplayPort, the next-generation digital interconnect for the Personal Computer. Analogix also provides a full suite of HDMI 1.3 and 1.2 transmitter and receiver solutions for the distribution of high-definition video and audio in consumer electronics. Analogix is based in Santa Clara, Calif., with offices in Beijing, China; Taipei, Taiwan; and Tokyo, Japan. Media contact: Bryan Greear, VP of Marketing - 408-891-2796. For more information, visit http://www.analogix.com. Analogix and all its ANX ANX Annex ANX Adventrx Pharmaceuticals (San Diego, CA) ANX Automotive Network Exchange (AIAG) ANX Advanced Network Exchange ANX Ascending Node Crossing (satellites) products names are trademarks of Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. All other trademarks referenced belong to their respective owners. |
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