The US International Trade Commission is investigating a number of technology companies that make or use NAND flash memory, including Apple, Sony, Samsung, Dell, and Lenovo after a patent-related complaint was filed.

BTG filed a complaint last month alleging that Apple and co violated the company's patents on non-volatile programmable flash memory chips. The complaint alleges that the companies "unlawfully import into the US sell for importation, and sell within the US after importation certain MLC flash memory chips and products containing the same, which allegedly infringe BTG’s U.S. Patent Nos. 5,394,362, 5,764,571, 5,872,735, 6,104,640, and 6,118,692."

Now normally something like this is just something for a patent court to decide. However the ITC getting involved puts a different handle on things. Usually it only gets interested when there is a lot of evidence against the outfits involved. It has the power to bring in trade sanctions and stop import and exports of the products. Thus this patent suit could see Apple without its flash drives which could be a bit messy.