Sony Getting Sued Over Blu-Ray

[ToonyLoons]

Just read this story on GameSopt.com.

Here

"Given its global position as an electronics giant, Sony is quite familiar with patent law. The company is also quite familiar with the potential penalties for running afoul of patent law, as evidenced by the $97 million in damages and interest it had to pay Immersion Corporation in a dispute over the rumble functions in Dual Shock controllers.

While the two companies have since patched things up, Sony opted to leave rumble by the wayside when it was designing the PlayStation 3's motion-sensing Sixaxis controller. The electronics giant couldn't avoid patent headaches entirely, however, as Irvine, California-based Target Technology Company filed suit earlier this month, seeking damages for alleged patent violations relating to the Blu-ray technology used in the system.

The suit, which names Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Pictures, and Sony DADC, claims that products marketed under the Blu-ray name infringe on a patent it owns for reflective layer materials in optical discs. The patent addresses what Target called a need for specific types of silver-based alloys with the advantages (but not the price) of gold. According to the patent, the alloys are also more resistant to corrosion than pure silver. The patent was filed in April of 2004 and granted in March of 2006.

Target is seeking a permanent injunction preventing Sony from violating its patent rights in the future, as well as damages with interest, multiplied due to what it characterizes as deliberate and willful infringement.

Neither Sony representatives nor Target attorneys had returned GameSpot's requests for comment as of press time. "

[Shin-Ra]

I believe this may be interesting to more than just gamers, so I've moved it to General Discussion.

[haichuu]

I'm sorry if I seem a bit ignorant but what exactly are they suing Sony for? Is it the scratch resistant surface of Blu Ray? This seems quite ridiculous I just read this on gamespot.com and all the 360 fanboys are going crazy w/ it...

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by haichuu

I'm sorry if I seem a bit ignorant but what exactly are they suing Sony for? Is it the scratch resistant surface of Blu Ray? This seems quite ridiculous I just read this on gamespot.com and all the 360 fanboys are going crazy w/ it...

Why would 360 fanboys get hyped about this? M$ gets sued constantly on just about every product they release.

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by ToonyLoons

The patent was filed in April of 2004 and granted in March of 2006.

Sony have been making Blu-ray recorders since April 2003. Somehow I find this one a little difficult to believe.

If Sony were using the 'infringing' technology before the patent was even applied for, the patent is a joke.

Of course it may be possible that Sony have changed how they do things, but I don't like 'Targets' chances...

[DrinkMore]

Another BS suite just for money. They are pretty absurd this day and age.

Free publicity for the company doing the sueing. That and money.

[NuSoardGraphite]

They probably hope that Sony will settle out of court for some ridiculous fee (10 million or something like that) so that they can get the funds to start their company up. That and the free publicity it will give them.

[maconomics]

I don't know about you guys, but I think there is a deliberate plan to stop Sony from leading the HD media revolution ! Blu-ray is dominating the sales charts which means that the competition is being phased out ! The so called HD format war is only being perpetuated the losers. Think about it ! all the negative press against Sony, PS3 and Blu-ray are all designed to stop Sony from winning in the HD era! Now I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories, but it is so obvious ! This lawsuit is just another distraction for Sony.

[maconomics]

Originally Posted by maconomics

I don't know about you guys, but I think there is a deliberate plan to stop Sony from leading the HD media revolution ! Blu-ray is dominating the sales charts which means that the competition is being phased out ! The so called HD format war is only being perpetuated the losers. Think about it ! all the negative press against Sony, PS3 and Blu-ray are all designed to stop Sony from winning in the HD era! Now I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories, but it is so obvious ! This lawsuit is just another distraction for Sony.

Correction.....................
The so called HD format war is only being perpetuated by the losers

[GasCat]

Do they realize there are other companies using Blu-Ray? Why only sue Sony?

[BigRick]

I work at Target Dammit F**k Target!!

[JTK]

Originally Posted by NuSoardGraphite

They probably hope that Sony will settle out of court for some ridiculous fee (10 million or something like that) so that they can get the funds to start their company up. That and the free publicity it will give them.

Originally Posted by maconomics

I don't know about you guys, but I think there is a deliberate plan to stop Sony from leading the HD media revolution ! Blu-ray is dominating the sales charts which means that the competition is being phased out ! The so called HD format war is only being perpetuated the losers. Think about it ! all the negative press against Sony, PS3 and Blu-ray are all designed to stop Sony from winning in the HD era! Now I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories, but it is so obvious ! This lawsuit is just another distraction for Sony.

Originally Posted by maconomics

Correction.....................
The so called HD format war is only being perpetuated by the losers

^^ Exactly to all of the above.

[kknight]

I'm so tired of these greedy companies, seems like they always sue for the stupidest things. I imagine the future, you can't come up with anything innovative without being sued for some technology, usage of name or someone else came up with that idea already.