Sony sued over Blu-ray technology.

[galson]

Alleges infringement of patent

California-based firm Target Technology has filed a lawsuit against three Sony companies - including SCEA - claiming that the Blu-ray format infringes on a patent it has held since March 2006.

According to IPlaw360.com, Target alleges that Blu-ray discs "embody" a silver-based alloy thin film it invented to be used on optical discs.

The lawsuit, which was filed earlier this month, names Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Pictures and Sony DADC US.

Target is seeking a jury trial, damages and a permanent injunction which would stop Sony from allegedly infringing on its patent rights in the future.

According to IPlaw360, Target has filed two other federal court lawsuits over a different patent for optical disc alloys, accusing manufacturer Williams Advanced Materials and its customers of infringing ten patents.

Target claims that company founder Han Nee developed the reflective silver alloy material which is used as a component of most DVDs produced today.

Sony has so far declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Source: Gamesindustry.biz

[Holic]

this is not the first time something like this has happened to Sony,
I think a similar thing happened to them about their dual shock joypad.

SO does this mean that the blu ray in the PS3 will have to be removed if they lost the lawsuit?

[CKemu]

Smells like desperate little guy trying to make some money. If there was such an obvious patent issue, you'd think this would have been brought up instantly..eg; day bray came out, but it's been around for awhile now...smells fishy. If this ever got to court I dare say it'd be settled fast.

[Metalmurphy]

Patent was held since March 2006? Bluray started beeing developed around 2004 or something. I doubt this lawsuit will go far.

[Sain]

Originally Posted by CKemu

Smells like desperate little guy trying to make some money. If there was such an obvious patent issue, you'd think this would have been brought up instantly..eg; day bray came out, but it's been around for awhile now...smells fishy. If this ever got to court I dare say it'd be settled fast.

Yes, they had to wait, until Sony released the PS3 -.-
Poor Sony, busy with lawsuits

[doggieiscool]

They will either settle out of court or just flood the people sueing with documents for years to come and see who runs out of money first :P

[Aided Onslaught]

This crap happens all the time...sony will be fine...

[Vanit]

Originally Posted by Metalmurphy

Patent was held since March 2006? Bluray started beeing developed around 2004 or something. I doubt this lawsuit will go far.

Not really. This legal issue isn't about the Blu-Ray technology itself, but the type of technology they used for the alloy on the discs, which if they wanted could be changed even in the very late steps of production.