Exhibitors at Europe’s largest technology trade show got a bit more than they bargained for.  Suspecting patent violations, German authorities raided 51 booths, carting off cell phones, navigation devices, and other gear that allegedly infringe on patents.

The AP reported yesterday that of the “51 exhibitors affected, 24 were from mainland China, three from Hong Kong and 12 from Taiwan. Another nine were German, with one each from Poland, the Netherlands and Korea.”

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/06/technology/EU-TEC-Germany-Tech-Fair-Raid.php

According to CNET News, U.S. officials regularly conduct raids in which they seize certain goods because of intellectual property violations. But the key difference is that those exercises deal primarily with copyright or trademark violations.

There’s no equivalent seizure authority under U.S. patent law.

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9887955-7.html?tag=newsmap