IBM files patent complaint vs Taiwan's Asustek

NEW YORK (Reuters) - International Business Machines Corp (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is asking the U.S. government to ban imports of some computers made by Taiwan's Asustek Computer Inc (2357.TW: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), alleging that the products infringe three IBM patents.

IBM said on Thursday it filed a complaint against Asustek and its North American subsidiary, ASUS Computer International, with the U.S. International Trade Commission.

It said the patent infringement occurs in Asustek's own-brand computers as well as in products the Taiwan contract manufacturer makes for other brands. IBM did not name the other brands.

Asustek's customers include large computer companies such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Dell Inc (DELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

"They use the patented technology for computers they make for others as well as their own brand computers," said IBM spokesman Ari Fishkind. He would not say if companies besides Asustek could be affected by the complaint.

"It's in the commission's hands. It's not for us to determine," he said. Asustek continued to sell computers using IBM technology after a licensing agreement between the companies expired on December 31, 2004, he said.

Asustek denied the allegations.

"We have consulted our lawyers in the U.S. and they have concluded that the complaint has no merit," said Beck Lee, a spokesman for Asustek in Taipei.

IBM said the infringing products include notebook computers, servers, routers and some components. It said the patents cover important aspects of computer systems, including power supplies, computer cooling and computer clustering capabilities.