A Texas jury has handed down a $10.5 million verdict against ASUSTeK Computer Inc., ruling that the Taipei-based laptop giant unlawfully infringed patents belonging to fellow Taiwanese firm Force Mos Technology Co. Ltd.

The unanimous verdict, delivered Thursday in the Eastern District of Texas, caps a tense five-day legal battle. Jurors found that ASUSTeK incorporated unauthorized chip technology into its laptop models—technology patented by New Taipei City-based Force Mos Tech. Adding fuel to the fire, the jury determined that the infringement was willful, intensifying ASUSTeK’s legal woes.

ASUSTeK’s Defense Falls Flat

Despite ASUSTeK’s legal team attempting to poke holes in the validity of Force Mos’ patents, the jury rejected those arguments outright. The patents in question—U.S. Patent Nos. 7,629,634 and 7,812,409—cover a specialized transistor technology used in integrated circuits.

Force Mos, which sued ASUSTeK in 2022, had alleged that the computer giant knowingly incorporated its proprietary tech into its products. The jury’s decision signals a resounding victory for patent holders seeking to protect their intellectual property in an industry where proprietary components are king.

Legal Teams & Fallout

Celebrating the outcome, Force Mos’ attorney Christopher Hanba of Dickinson Wright PLLC stated, “We appreciate the jury’s efforts and are pleased they recognized the importance of Force Mos’ intellectual property rights.”

ASUSTeK has yet to respond publicly to the verdict, leaving the tech world wondering whether an appeal is on the horizon.

Force Mos was represented by a formidable legal team from Dickinson Wright PLLC and Haltom & Doan, including attorneys Ross Garsson, Michael Saunders, Joshua Jones, Bryan Atkinson, Jordan Garsson, Ariana Pellegrino, and Tron Fu.

ASUSTeK’s legal defense was led by a team from Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Lumens Law Group PLLC, and Gillam & Smith LLP, including Charles McMahon, Kal Shah, Thomas DaMario, Kathleen Lynch, Ziyong (Sean) Li, Li Chen, Melissa Smith, and J. Travis Underwood.

What’s Next?

With $10.5 million on the line, ASUSTeK faces tough choices: pay up, negotiate a settlement, or launch a legal counteroffensive. As tech firms increasingly battle over chip and component patents, this case sets a precedent for the industry—underscoring the high stakes of intellectual property warfare