Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) faces a patent infringement complaint before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). This legal action could result in a U.S. import ban on the company's advanced chips.
Irish firms Longitude Licensing and Marlin Semiconductor filed the complaint. They allege that TSMC’s 7nm and smaller process nodes violate existing patents. These specific nodes power AI accelerators and products for major clients including Apple and Qualcomm.
The case has created a political divide among U.S. lawmakers. Republican representatives are urging the ITC to block infringing imports to prevent special treatment. Democratic lawmakers warn that an exclusion order could disrupt the U.S. semiconductor supply chain and harm national defense.
An administrative law judge will issue an initial ruling in June 2026. The ITC expects to reach a final commission decision by October 2026.