Toshiba files complaint in U.S. against 17 companies on DVD patents

[BJ_M]

Toshiba Corp. has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission and sued 17 companies, alleging infringement of its DVD patents, the Japanese electronics maker said Monday.

The commission is an independent federal agency that checks on unfair trade practices and copyright infringements.

Toshiba filed a complaint Friday to the commission against the 17 companies, mostly Hong Kong and Chinese manufacturers and importers, demanding that their imports to the U.S. of DVD players, DVD recorders and other digital video disc products.

Also Friday, Toshiba filed a lawsuit demanding monetary damages to the same companies in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Toshiba spokeswoman Yuko Sugahara declined to comment on the damage amount.

Toshiba licenses DVD patents, but the companies, including Daewoo Electronics America Inc. of the U.S., Dongguan GVG Digital Technology of China and Star Light Electronics Co. of Hong Kong, don't have such licensing agreements, Toshiba said. Imported DVD products are sold without proper permission, the company said.

"The infringement of Toshiba's patents by these companies has damaged Toshiba's DVD-related business, and also caused damage to the legitimate and licensed DVD product manufacturing and distribution and business as a whole," Tokyo-based Toshiba said in a statement.

Daewoo Electronics Corp. in Seoul had no comment, said company spokesman Gwon Dae. (AP)

[BJ_M]

those factories you never heard of make about 60-70% of all dvd players

[BJ_M]

those factories you never heard of make about 60-70% of all dvd players

I don't think so, these factories are not even the biggest players in China's DVD market. And there are hundreds of DVD OEM factories other than the listed. I'm just curious, where do you get this stats?

[MOVIEGEEK]

Brand names such as Apex and Cyberhome have been shutdown because of failing to pay licensing fees...more will follow.

[lordsmurf]

I'm sure the CEO of Apex rotting in a Chinese prison has some hand in the downfall of Apex as well. As I recall reading, he borrowed more than he could pay back then defaulted. I don't remember the details, Google for news articles on the topic.

[dvd3500]

Cyberhome might be shutdown due to failing to pay for the licensing fees.

Cyberhome is alive and well here in Europe. I personally will never buy from them though. I had to return the player 3 times and it nev er did what I hoped it would, i.e. play DVD+/-RWs.

[dvd3500]

I stand corrected. They have applied for bankrupocy here in Germany.