Sony settles in Blu-ray technology lawsuit

Sony has agreed to settle in a recent lawsuit involving Blu-ray players, according to an announcement. The company had been sued by a Columbia University emeritus professor, Gertrude Rothschild, who argued that Sony's technology violated a US patent of hers relating to band-gap semiconductors -- specifically, those that allow LEDs to emit the short wavelengths found in blue lasers. Rothschild has also directed suits at other companies for the same reason, such as LG, Sanyo, Samsung, Pioneer and Sharp.

The details of the settlement have not been revealed, but Rothschild representative Albert Jacobs is quoted as saying that "Professor Rothschild is very pleased that both Sony and Sanyo, and other major electronics makers have recognized her major scientific contributions to LED and LD technology.

"Professor Rothschild made a seminal breakthrough," Jacobs continues, "in understanding the doping requirements necessary for the production of the blue, green, violet and ultraviolet LEDs and LDs on a commercial and efficient scale that are essential to today's consumer electronics, and highly deserves this recognition for her work." [via Blu-ray.com]

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Other story tags: sony, blu-ray, lawsuits