In the latest episode of a bitter court drama that's been running for a while, Korean TV manufacturer LG is counter suing Japanese conterpart Hitachi over claims regarding plasma display technology.
It's an almost identical lawsuit to the one filed by Hitachi in April, which claimed that LG had infringed on several patents related to the production of plasma displays. This time, it's LG that claim Hitachi have stolen seven patents with both parties seeking financial compensation and injunctions preventing the other from violating the patents.
The two companies have been trying to reach a settlement since 2005 but this legal wrangle, between two companies that were once close partners with a relationship apparently based on (ahem) 'mutual trust', looks set to rumble on.
According to Lee Jeong-hwan, Executive Vice President of LG, "Japanese firms are filing more and more lawsuits as competition in the global display market has increased dramatically. We will proactively deal with the situation based on our patented and patent-applied for technologies."
All this paints an uncertain picture for future consumer electronic litigation with the suggestion that companies are choosing to sue as compensation for faltering margins.
Via
Reuters
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