A shopper walks past a Blu-ray Disc logo at a Tokyo store. File photo: Reuters/Issei KatoTOKYO (Reuters), March 21, 2008:
The U.S. International Trade Commission said it would launch an investigation into some 30 companies including Sony Corp on possible patent infringements related to Blu-ray disc players and other products.
The ITC is a government agency that aims to protect the U.S. market from unfair trade practices, including patent infringement.
The commission said on its Web site on Thursday that the products involved are short-wavelength light-emitting diodes and laser diodes used in such electronics as handheld mobile devices, traffic lights and high-definition DVD players.
The move is based on a complaint filed in February by Columbia University Professor Emeritus Gertrude Neumark Rothschild, who is seeking to block imports into the United States of a range of products that she said were infringing her patent.
Besides Sony, companies cited in the ITC announcement include Nokia, Motorola Inc, LG Electronics Inc, and Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd.
A Sony spokesman said the consumer electronics maker could not comment as the investigation is ongoing.
(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka)
© Reuters 2008
Seniors World Chronicle adds
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Gertrude Neumark, 80, Professor Emeritus, Columbia University, holds several patents. FORBES reports: Professor Neumark is one of the world's foremost experts on doping wide band-gap semiconductors. During research work at Columbia University, she conceived of the doping process that has had a significant impact on the quality of consumer products. In addition to the blue laser, her patented processes to create blue and ultraviolet LEDs are now used in a large number of products ranging from flat screen TVs, computers, traffic lights, instrument panels, as the background color for mobile-phone screens, in multicolor displays and in numerous other lighting applications. ___________________________________________________________________
