USITC to probe Sony, others on patent infringement issues

A whole bunch of companies involved in the use of LEDs and laser diodes in mobile phones, high-def players, and data storage devices are currently facing an investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission on charges of patent infringement. More in the full article.

Sony, Matsushita, and Toshiba are among some 30 companies that will be facing an investigation by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) on possible patent infringement issues.

According to a news release from the commission, the products involved in the investigation are short-wavelength LEDs and laser diodes used in hand-held mobile devices, instrument panels, billboards, traffic lights, high-def DVD players, Blu-ray disc players, and data storage devices.

The investigation comes after a complaint made by Hartsdale, NY, resident Gertrude Neumark Rothschild. Rothschild’s complaint alleges that the aforementioned products infringe on a patent she owns. She is currently seeking to block the products’ importation into the U.S.

Here’s a full list of the companies identified by the USITC as respondents in the investigation:

• Avago Technologies of Singapore
• Bacol Optoelectonic Co. Ltd. of Taiwan
• Dominant Semiconductors Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia
• Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., of Taiwan
• Exceed Perseverance Electronic Ind. Co., Ltd., of China
• Guangzhou Hongli Opto-Electronic Co., Ltd., of China
• Harvatek Internaional Inc. of Taiwan
• Hitachi, Ltd., of Japan
• Kingbright Electronic Co., Ltd., of Taiwan
• LG Electronics of Korea
• Lite-On Technology Corp. of Taiwan
• Lucky Light Electronics Co., Ltd., of China
• Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., of Japan
• Motorola, Inc., of Schaumburg, IL
• Nokia of Finland
• Opto Tech Corporation of Taiwan
• Pioneer Corporation of Japan
• Rohm Co., Ltd., of Japan
• Samsung Group of Korea
• Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., of Japan
• Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd., of Korea
• Sharp Corporation of Japan
• Shenzhen Unilight Electronic Co., Ltd., of China
• Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., of Japan
• Sony Corporation of Japan
• Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB of Sweden
• Stanley Electric Co., Ltd., of Japan
• Toshiba Corporation of Japan
• Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., of Malvern, PA
• Yellow Stone Corporation of Taiwan