Synopses, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against several Oregon individuals, alleging infringement of various forms of electronic design automation (“EDA”) software for which Synopsys holds copyrights.  The software is intended for testing and designing computer processing chips and semiconductors.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, with Case No. 3:15-cv-01953, says that:

EDA generally refers to using computers to design, verify, and simulate the performance of electronic circuits on a chip. For more than 25 years, Synopsys’ solutions have helped semiconductor manufacturers and electronics companies design, test, and manufacture microchips for a wide range of products.

Among the works claimed to be infringed are the “Design Compiler, PrimeTime, Formality, IC Compiler, CustomExplorer, HSIMplus, HSPICE, and NanoTime applications.”

The defendants include four named individuals whom are believed to be residents of Portland, Oregon, as well as 10 Doe parties.  The plaintiff claims to know specifically how many times the named defendants have circumvented access control systems.

The complaint alleges violations of 17 U.S.C. § 1201 via the alleged use of counterfeit license keys.  The relief sought includes statutory damages of $2,500 for each violation, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs.

The complaint was filed by Brenna K. Legaard of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, P.C.