LG sues Sony over PlayStation 3 Blu-ray drive

February 8, 2011 By Geoff Duncan

LG says the Blu-ray drive in Sony's PlayStation 3 gaming console infringes on its patents...and it wants the PS3 banned in the United States.

South Korea’s LG Electronics has filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission to bar all imports of Sony’s PlayStation 3 console into the United States. According to the complaint, LG alleges the Blu-ray drives in Sony’s top-flight gaming console infringe on three LG patents—two related to how the drive pulls data off the disc, and another related to production of “multiple data streams” to handle several camera angles. LG is calling for an “immediate” investigation into the Blu-ray players.

The suit was first reported by Bloomberg; a copy of the complaint is available (PDF) from the ITC 337 Law Blog.

Industry watchers are largely viewing the suit as a tit-for-tat in an escalating patent battle between Sony and LG; late last year, Sony filed suit against LG, alleging that LG mobile phones infringe on several Sony patents. LG’s move raises the stakes for Sony by threatening a core market for its PlayStation 3 business—which, after years of struggling, is finally starting to gain ground over its console rivals, the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox 360.

Showing 8 comments

Noonofya Boozness at 10:16am 1st March 2011 PS3 Super computer ran on Other OS (Linux) . Sony removed that feature so Sony can kiss my white back-end. The PS3 with current updates is NO LONGER a supercomputer.
Shervin the Iranian at 5:03am 1st March 2011 i've got my little cute PS3 safe anyways, we will escape to north pole together if we needed to, i've got my water gun to shoot down LG phones, DIE LG DIE! pew pew pew :p
doomx7 at 12:27pm 16th February 2011 irony: sony was the first in blu-ray as in they invented it. so i gues lg should stfu oh @ Trevor Whitlock pay attention the ps3 has MORE POWER and the 360 is MORE PRONE TO BREAKING DOWN. btw type PS3 supercomputer into google you'll get a ton of info that just shows that PS stands for PLAY SUPERIOR!
1. Trevor Whitlock at 11:52am 17th February 2011 So if Sony was the only one behind Blu-Ray, why would they let their competition become part of the Blu-Ray Association? If you look it up Hitachi, Panasoninc, Apple, as well as about 20 other companies have their hands in the BD-R game. If Sony was the only one, then Sony would receive all royalties and no one else could...right? Look up any article regarding Blu-Ray(wikipedia is not an accurate source).
2. Trevor Whitlock at 10:22am 22nd February 2011 so Sony is the sole proprietor for all Blu-ray, no one else developed BD technology?? Ever hear of Hitachi? or Panasonic? or how about the other members of the Blu-Ray Association Board? I'm sure Sony wouldn't be willing to share profits and royalties, they are a for profit business. Read up to know your arguement before inserting your foot. LG is on the board also.
  1. Trevor Whitlock at 10:24am 22nd February 2011 Wow Sony learned that with a new CPU they can hook up multiple systems with multiple cpu's(the whole idea behind supercomputers)?? Microsoft did it, and China, and IBM. Sony is not a forerunner in that field, unless it can make movies or other ways to come up with shotty technology(betacam IMX ans SX)
Trevor Whitlock at 10:15am 8th February 2011 Go LG! Swing once for 3M becuase of Sony's Betacam Scam. Not like the PS3 could keep up with the Xbox anyway. Maybe Wii because it is a glorified wii now. Wonder what this will do to BD-R sales?
1. Trevor Whitlock at 9:11am 14th February 2011 Really, bad votes w/o any counterarguement? Anything to disprove Sony converting their video equipment to not accept 3M's "Sony Certified Tape," or are you mad at the PS3 comment? It's ok, you dont have to sulk like a 3yr old. who didnt get candy. Please respnd I would like feedback.