Sega Import Investigation

The United States International Trade Commission has agreed to investigate whether memory chips used in the Sega Dreamcast console violate patents held by Rambus. Rambus asked the Trade Commission to investigate in March when it filed an infringement suit naming Sega and Hitatchi. Rambus is asking that the Trade Commission block imports of the contested chips. "By instituting this investigation, the ITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case,'' reads a commission statement regarding the investigation, and a date for a decision has not been set.