As predicted, Vizio being sued by known universe for non-payment of royalties

[WickyWoo]

This is exactly why Apex and Cyberhome are no longer found at your local stores. These cheapass Chinese OEMs run until they get called on it, and then slink off into the good night with bajillions leaving a few scapegoats holding the bag.

Sony, Samsung, Mits, Phillips, JVC, Thompson and MPEG LA are all partner to the suit

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...Ec&refer=japan

Vizio's response :

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4826819&EDATE=

Apparently TruTech (Target House brand) is affected, and then a lot of the rest will go down as well. Expect similar suits to follow with Olevia and whoever else uses these parts (likely almost all offbrand sets)

[mjbethancourt]

This is why you don't buy cheap knock-offs from unproven, fly-by-night outfits. An HDTV is a big investment, it's not a smart place to gamble. It's stupid like buying a Daewoo. Now I've got some people (dad) who need to hear me say "I told you so".

[Jim L]

VIZIO is a big CostCo brand.

Contrary to my recommendations, my brother-in-law bought a VIZIO 720P display and is regretting it.

It serves them right to get this suit. They are undercutting profits for all the legitimate CE companies

[tron3]

M'eh, they will work it out. As an owner of a Vizio TV, I would rather see them sued for patent infringement, than finding lead in the TV's.

The shame of it is, they really are nice TV's, just not spectacular.

[Wreck]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

This is why you don't buy cheap knock-offs from unproven, fly-by-night outfits. An HDTV is a big investment, it's not a smart place to gamble. It's stupid like buying a Daewoo. Now I've got some people (dad) who need to hear me say "I told you so".

I dont know if I would consider daewoo a fly by night, they make cars as well and tons of otherstuff.

However, i always thought their tvs were complete trash ... they didnt even have 3 component rca jacks on the back of their big screens! I knew someone with like a 30something inch... didnt have it ... I thought that was strange ... visited an uncle I rarely see, saw he had a daewoo big screen, out of curiosity I looked at the back and to my surprise still no rca jacks! Sure this was before HDTVs but tback then rca jacks were common. (red yellow white)

[Wreck]

VIZIO's suppliers have licenses for the MPEG-2 patents, and VIZIO
believes that these licenses extend to VIZIO's products. VIZIO has notified
its suppliers of the lawsuit and expects full support and cooperation by
them in the defense of the lawsuit. Accordingly, VIZIO does not believe
that the suit will have a material adverse impact on VIZIO's business.

VIZIO is working to resolve this matter with the plaintiffs and its
suppliers, and it intends to defend its legal rights with vigor.

Wonder if that is a loophole and can hold up

[tron3]

Originally Posted by BigBLUballz

Wonder if that is a loophole and can hold up

All this may be a ploy to force Vizio into bankrupcy and make "cheap HDTV's" go away. Big business normally leave the little guy alone until he becomes big enough to threaten them. Then the game becomes "buy them out, or force them out". Good Luck to Vizio.

Originally Posted by BigBLUballz

... ... visited an uncle I rarely see, saw he had a daewoo big screen, out of curiosity I looked at the back and to my surprise still no rca jacks! Sure this was before HDTVs but tback then rca jacks were common. (red yellow white)

Ugh, composite is to video connectors what VHS was to TV. Only coax is lower and suprise, still commonly used. About 2003 when I first saw what a simple s-video cable did for the picture quality I rewatched every single one of my DVD's. The sharpness and color was vastly better.

In the end I was using component (red, green blue) and can't say I saw that much more improvement, but I saw something.

[Blu Titan]

Patent laws have to be respected, because that is the only way to assure future innovations.

[WickyWoo]

All this may be a ploy to force Vizio into bankrupcy and make "cheap HDTV's" go away. Big business normally leave the little guy alone until he becomes big enough to threaten them. Then the game becomes "buy them out, or force them out". Good Luck to Vizio.

No, it's that they cheat. Not only do they cut corners and make substandard product but they don't pay for their intellectual property. EVERYONE has to pay those fees no matter what size company you are. When you buy a DVD player, $8 is split between many of these same people. On a Blu player it's something over $20 right now (as it used to be with DVD)

Is it really so hard for you to believe that a chinese company is engaged in copyright violations?

[Tarheel72]

I have two that I got at Costco. One is a 42" plasma and one is a 37" LCD. I got both in the fall of 2006 so they are grandfathered as far as the "lifetime" Costco guarantee is concerned. I felt like with that kind of a safety net I was ok, especially if the company goes out of business. Having said that, they have not caused me any problem so far and I am pleased with the picture. Neither are primary TV's, one is in a bedroom and one in a gameroom. But for my purposes they have worked fine.

My daughter got two from Walmart earlier this year, a 42" LCD and a smaller LCD, 26" I think. I hope they work out for her. Doesn't LG make the panels for them?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Jim L

VIZIO is a big CostCo brand.

Contrary to my recommendations, my brother-in-law bought a VIZIO 720P display and is regretting it.

It serves them right to get this suit. They are undercutting profits for all the legitimate CE companies

Although I agree with you..... on all points.....

one thing doesn't have anything to do with the other....

If they stole technology from someone, and made it WORK WELL, and affordable, I'd buy it.... but they not only stole technology, they cut corners and made a crappy product.....

[Scooby Blu]

Great post Wicky thanks ! Several folks I know bought into the Vizio brand after I asked them to do some side by side comparisons with other name brand sets. They choose not to. Oh well, maybe some day they will do a side by side and see why the other sets costs more.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

No, it's that they cheat. Not only do they cut corners and make substandard product but they don't pay for their intellectual property. EVERYONE has to pay those fees no matter what size company you are. When you buy a DVD player, $8 is split between many of these same people. On a Blu player it's something over $20 right now (as it used to be with DVD)

Is it really so hard for you to believe that a chinese company is engaged in copyright violations?

What does the fact that they are chinese have to do with anything ?

Don't even luxury brands outsource manufacturing to China? Doesn't it make things more affordable for all of us ?

Personally, I hope that this lawsuit falls apart. I think that the plaintiffs are anticipating the mandatory switch to digital. This is nothing more than a ploy to overcharge consumers for mass-produced products . If people feel the need to buy lower-end products............... well this is capitalism. I own a Honda and would never spend all that money on Lexus, Infinity, Mercedes, etc. Some own Kia, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Suzuki etc and would never spend money on Nissan, Toyota, Honda. Who is to say. Democracy and Capitalism.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by tron3

All this may be a ploy to force Vizio into bankrupcy and make "cheap HDTV's" go away. Big business normally leave the little guy alone until he becomes big enough to threaten them. Then the game becomes "buy them out, or force them out". Good Luck to Vizio.



Ugh, composite is to video connectors what VHS was to TV. Only coax is lower and suprise, still commonly used. About 2003 when I first saw what a simple s-video cable did for the picture quality I rewatched every single one of my DVD's. The sharpness and color was vastly better.

In the end I was using component (red, green blue) and can't say I saw that much more improvement, but I saw something.

+1. Must be a generation gap thing.

[haushausman]

Originally Posted by BigBLUballz

I dont know if I would consider daewoo a fly by night, they make cars as well and tons of otherstuff.

They don't make cars in the US anymore... they were pretty "fly by night" in the auto industry here...

[WickyWoo]

What does the fact that they are chinese have to do with anything ?

I figured everyone knew by now how much knockoff/bootleg product comes out of China

They don't make cars in the US anymore... they were pretty "fly by night" in the auto industry here...

There was a dealership here literally having a "buy one get one free" sale

Seriously

Not joking

They were marketing it as "get a car for each of the kids"

Daewoo is also Korean.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by mdm1699

What does the fact that they are chinese have to do with anything ?

There's a big reason why China and INdia are in their own region code for Blu-ray. They rip-off everything.

[WickyWoo]

There's a big reason why China and INdia are in their own region code for Blu-ray. They rip-off everything.

Pretty much. The "C" stands for "Copyright Violators"

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

I figured everyone knew by now how much knockoff/bootleg product comes out of China.

Doesn't stop companies from outsourcing there. Why? If they don't then we wouldn't spend on their overpriced products manufactured here. I feel like a hypocrite sometimes. Still, I am a consumer. I love my Dr Martens boots and wouldn't trade them for the world......$120...made in China. Where was the savings passed to me ? Bloody...... !

I must say that I agree that companies should be paid for their innovations. Why did they wait this long to sue? Why not sue the makers of the components that go into the Vizio TVs? Mandatory digital switchover.

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

There was a dealership here literally having a "buy one get one free" sale

Seriously

Not joking

They were marketing it as "get a car for each of the kids"

Daewoo is also Korean.

It is all about perceived value. As consumers, we all decide what a particular need/want is worth. Business try to cater to those price-points. We all make these decisions everyday without knowing it.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

There's a big reason why China and INdia are in their own region code for Blu-ray. They rip-off everything.

Hey leave India out of this buddy . How do we say generic drugs for the parents and grandparents! HELLO!