Littelfuse Files Suit Against CompUSA For Patent Infringement

    DES PLAINES, Ill.--March 2, 2001--Littelfuse, Inc. today reported that it filed a suit in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, on February 14, 2001 charging CompUSA, Inc. with patent infringement.
    The suit alleges that CompUSA imports and sells computer motherboards manufactured by Soyo Computer, Inc., a Taiwanese corporation, that contain components covered under a U.S. patent issued to Littelfuse.
    I4n its suit, Littelfuse charges that the Soyo motherboards carry surface mount circuit protection devices manufactured by Polytronics Technology Corporation, a Taiwanese corporation, that infringe a patent issued to Littelfuse for its surface mount PTC product technology.
    Among other relief, Littelfuse seeks to recover damages and an assessment of interests and costs against CompUSA and to prohibit CompUSA from selling motherboards manufactured by Soyo containing components that infringe on the Littelfuse patent.