Government to investigate alleged Microsoft keyboard knock-offs

Microsoft has complained to the government that a Taiwanese manufacture of mice and keyboards is infringing on Microsoft patents and

the U.S. International Trade Commission has agreed to investigate the complaint, the AP reports. Last month, Microsoft made the complaint against Primax Electronics Ltd. Microsoft officials say that they have tried for several years to convince Primax to enter a licensing agreement and failing that, they are asking the ITC to ban the import and sale of the devices

The case will now move to an administrative judge. The ITC said it hopes to have the investigation completed within 45 days.

Given Microsoft’s hardball tactics of the past few years over its patents, and yesterday’s news about its slimy behind-the-scenes deal where Microsoft made a profit from a patent lawsuit between two other firms, it is hard to root for Redmond in any patent-related skirmish. The one exception might be knock-offs and counterfeits that come en masse from the Pacific Rim region. Goodness knows that other vendors, such as Cisco, have been fighting this battle. Microsoft certainly has the deep pockets and legal acumen to take this one on, and any headway it can make would be well received by the U.S. electronics industry.

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