InterDigital says ITC staff in favor of Samsung in patent suit

(Reuters) - Wireless technology firm InterDigital Inc (IDCC.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) received a blow in an ongoing patent infringement case with the U.S. International Trade Commission's staff recommending in favor of South Korea's Samsung Electronics (005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), sending InterDigital's shares down as much as 28 percent.

In a statement, the company said the U.S. ITC staff recommended that Samsung, the world's No. 2 mobile handset maker, did not engage in unfair trade practices related to third-generation mobile technology.

InterDigital has maintained that Samsung engaged in unfair practices by selling certain 3G handsets and components in the United States that infringe five of InterDigital's patents.

Last week, InterDigital and Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) agreed to drop patent cases in British courts against each other.

Shares of InterDigital fell $6.15 to $19.11 in midday trade on Nasdaq. The stock had touched a low of $18.09 earlier.

(Reporting by S John Tilak in Bangalore; Editing by Deepak Kannan)