Sony and Vizio Settle Patent Battle

Sony and Vizio have settled their patent dispute with a a cross-licensing agreement: the companies are now licensees of each others' digital television patents.

Digital television makers Sony and Vizio have resolved their long-running patent dispute in a rather surprising way: the companies have cross-licensed each others’ digital television patent portfolios. Under the agreement, Sony now has access to Vizio’s digital television patents and Vizio has access to Sony’s.

“Having successfully resolved the disputes, we shall continue to aggressively protect our rights and actively expand Vizio’s licensing program,” said Vizio’s VP of operations and administration Rob Brinkman, in a statement. “As an owner of patent rights and as a licensee of legitimate patent right held by others, Vizio respects intellectual property and we expect our competitors to do the same.”

Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.

Vizio is currently locked in a number of patent disputes with leading consumer electronics manufacturers, including Funai Electric and LG Electronics.

Vizio has recently been able to parley its low prices and discount retailer presence into the top slot for LCD TV sales in the United States.