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The
probe follows a complaint filed by Singapore-based Creative
Technology Ltd and U.S.-based Creative Labs Inc that several
handset makers have infringed on their patent, the ITC said in a
statement.
The accused vendors are ZTE Corp, Sony Corp, Samsung, LG
Electronics Inc, Lenovo Group Ltd, Motorola Mobility, HTC Corp
and Blackberry Ltd.
"The products at issue in the investigation are portable
electronic devices, such as smartphones, with the capability of
playing stored media files selected by a user from a
hierarchical display," ITC wrote.
The trade panel said it has not yet made any decision on the
merits of the case, and will decide a target date for completing
investigation within 45 days after the institution of the
investigation.
Creative Technology was not immediately available for comment.
HTC said it cannot comment as the case has entered the court
process.
Samsung and LG said they are looking into the case and didn't
have any other immediate comment. Sony declined to comment. ZTE,
Lenovo and other vendors were not immediately available.
"It's rare to see so many vendors involved in one patent
infringement case," said research firm Canalys analyst Nicole
Peng.
While the share price reaction of most Asia-based companies was
muted, Hong Kong-listed shares of ZTE tumbled 11 percent on
Friday to their lowest since July 2013. The Shenzhen-based
company faced export restrictions imposed by the U.S. Commerce
Department in March for allegedly violating sanctions against
Iran.
(Reporting By Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by J.R. Wu in
TAIPEI and Jee Heun Kahng in SEOUL, Makiko Yamazaki in TOKYO;
Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
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