Sony Sued Over Blu-ray Patent Infringement

A California company claims Sony violated its patent on a silver alloy used in the reflective layer of optical discs.

Sony is once again in hot water over patent infringement. After a scuffle with Immersion Corporation over rumble technology in its controllers last year (which ended up costing $97 million), Sony is now finding out that even its Blu-ray technology isn’t safe. According to a GameSpot article, Sony is being sued by Target Technology Company over a patent it holds on the reflective layers in optical discs, which Sony supposedly violated.

Target’s patent is for a silver alloy with excellent reflectivity and corrosion resistance, which offers similar performance to gold on optical discs but at a much lower cost. Apparently, the aluminum reflective coating usually used in CDs doesn’t quite meet the tighter tolerance necessary for Blu-ray discs, making Target’s technology an attractive alternative to keep down costs.

Target wants to immediately stop Sony’s alleged violation of its patent rights, and is seeking damages with interest, which could also be multiplied if Sony is guilty of willful and deliberate infringement. Unless Sony’s legal team can cook up an adequate defense, it looks like the corporate coffer will be dipped into again to make this problem go away.