The USITC will hear Nvidia's case against Samsung but will also allow Samsung's case against Nvidia and a dozen other small partners of Nvidia. Nvidia has submitted a lawsuit against Samsung and also filed a second case in the International Trade Commission, seeking to block Samsung from shipping into the U.S. Galaxy phones and tablets that allegedly use its patents. Samsung went to the ITC last month to countersue Nvidia there, too, dragging along other small partners of Nvidia - Biostar Microtech; Elitegroup Computer Systems; EVGA; Fuhu; Jaton; Mad Catz; OUYA; Sparkle Computer; Toradex; Wikipad; and Zotac.

Samsung's complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain graphics processing chips, systems on a chip, and products containing the same that infringe patents asserted by Samsung.

As it typically happens, instituting this investigation, the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.