US ITC will investigate Sony

THE US International Trade Commission (ITC) has launched an investigation of Sony after receiving complaints from LG Electronics relating to Blu-ray and television technology.

LG has alleged violations of section 337 of the 1930 Tariff Act, along with the importation of Blu-ray devices and digital televisions that LG claims infringe its patents.

Sony is already experiencing the wrath of LG in Europe after a court order in the Netherlands directed its Playstation 3 consoles to be seized, and if a similar import ban is approved by the ITC then Sony will have a major struggle on its hands.

Sony's Japanese and American divisions are both named as subjects of the investigation.

The ITC will announce a target completion date for the investigation within 45 days, which means that Sony might be fighting this battle with LG for many months to come.

LG has requested that the ITC issue a cease and desist order to Sony, but it remains to be seen if the US authorities will agree to that request. µ