LG looks to ban Sony PS3, more in US in patent fight
updated 08:30 am EST, Tue February 8, 2011
LG files ITC complaint against Sony over PS3
LG on Monday quietly disclosed a complaint it had launched against Sony with the International trade Commission to block sales of the PlayStation 3. The Korean company argued that the 160GB slim PS3 (also known as the CECH-2501A) violates a patent LG claims to hold for Blu-ray disc playback. The suit is believed in retaliation for Sony's action against LG in an attempt to keep its phones out of the market.
The complaint was joined on the same day by a much wider LG motion that targeted six patents. Sony allegedly infringed on the technology with its Cyber-shot A55 and TX9 cameras, the Handycam XR550, and VAIO EA, EB and X notebooks. Blu-ray games for the PS3 were also singled out, including Hot Shots: Golf Out of Bounds.
Retaliatory patent complaints are common and have included a recent patent war between Microsoft and Motorola over phones and the Xbox 360. LG's new ITC motion may escalate the situation as it's now targeting Blu-ray, one of Sony's most important resources and a feature of most of product line.
Neither side has officially commented on the trade dispute. [via Florian Mueller]
