14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung Electronics decided to strike back at the patent-infringement lawsuit filed against it by Sharp some time ago. The biggest semiconductor manufacturer has filled a patent-infringement lawsuit against LDC panel manufacturer Sharp with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Tokyo District Court.
According to the company representatives, Samsung had filled the U.S. complaint on December 21st and accused Sharp of having infringed four of its U.S. patents in the LCD panels they are currently producing. The accusation refused to publicly detail upon these patents, but asked the trade regulator to launch an investigation into the complaints, and, ultimately, restrict Sharp's LCD panels on the U.S. market. The prohibited products would include TV sets, monitors, laptop PCs and cell phones.
"We are countersuing Sharp in Delaware in the United States and in Tokyo. We have also requested the U.S. International Trade Commission to launch an investigation in this case," Samsung spokesman James Chung said.
This lawsuit comes as a response to Sharp's legal action that has been filled on December 12th and focused on the fact that LCD modules and televisions manufactured and sold by Samsung in South Korea infringe upon three Sharp patents. The proprietary technology is alleged to deal with high brightness and high-speed response as well as a wide viewing angle (the LCD display polar factor).
"We plan to take appropriate legal countermeasures after studying the details of the legal claim," Sharp representatives said in a statement.
Both companies have a long history in lawsuits against each other. For instance, Sharp filled a lawsuit on the 6th of August against Samsung. The company alleged that the LCD modules manufactured by Samsung and LCD TVs, computer monitors and mobile phones that incorporate the modules infringed on its U.S. patents: 4,649,383, 5,760,855, 6,052,162, 7,027,024 and 7,057,689.