Microchip Technology is suing Chinese fabless chipmaker Shanghai Haier Integrated Circuit Co. (SHIC) for alleged misappropriation of its microcode IP relating to Microchip's PIC16CXXX microcontrollers.

The legal action against Shanghai-based Haier IC, a division of Chinese appliance maker Haier Group, also claims that Microchip's PIC16 datasheets were copied detailing the use and operation of Microchip's MCUs.  Microchip's datasheets and microcode are copyright-protected in both the U.S. and in China.

To avoid ruffling feathers, Microchip stressed that its lawsuit is directed only at SHIC, which is affiliated with a large Chinese multinational company. It is not directed at Microchip customers in China or the Chinese government.

Microchip also brought a related action against Haier IC's Taiwanese distributor, Linkage Technology Co.

SHIC said that is chip was self-developed with its own IP copyright and that the chips in question were not totally compatible with Microchip's.

The IP piracy case which is being tried as a copyright infringement in Shanghai's No. 1 Intermediate People's Court is being closely watched as test case of IP enforcement in China. 
Microcontrollers or MCUs are used in a broad range of applications, including consumer electronics, automobiles, telecommunications, and industrial automation.

Contact:
William Yang, VP, Asia Pacific, Microchip, www.microchip.com