In 2007, Silicon Image filed a lawsuit against Analogix alleging, inter alia, that Analogix infringed Silicon Image’s copyright when it purportedly gained unlawful access to Silicon Image’s semiconductor software. Silicon Image also claimed that Analogix misappropriated Silicon Image’s proprietary register maps, and that Analogix encouraged existing and prospective customers to modify Silicon Image’s software for use that was outside the scope of Silicon Image’s software license agreements.
Although the United States District Court for the Northern District of California found that Silicon Image demonstrated a likelihood of success on its claim of misappropriation, the refused to grant a preliminary injunction. The judge expedited the trial to April 8, the judge scheduled an expedited trial for April 8.
The judge noted that Silicon Image may difficulty demonstrating that it protected its trade secrets. Companies that are trying to protect trade secrets and other intellectual property need to ensure that they are adequately policing their marks. Failure to properly protect intellectual property could jeopardize a company’s ability to seek recovery for infringement.