LG wants PlayStation 3 banned in the US News • News • PlayStation 3 • Eurogamer.net

News PlayStation 3

Reckons Blu-ray playback infringes patents.

Korean company LG wants Sony's PlayStation 3 and Bravia tellys banned in the US for what it claims are patent infringements relating to Blu-ray playback.

The Foss Patents blog contacted Eurogamer to reveal documents filed with the US International Trade Commission in Washington relating to the complaint.

The ITC has the power to block imports of products that violate US patents.

LG claims Sony is infringing four of its patents in a complaint that broadly relates to "certain electronic devices having a Blu-Ray Disc player and components thereof", but the PlayStation 3 (Model No. CECH-2501A) is the only Sony product to be specifically named in the main document of the complaint.

A Bloomberg reports suggests LG's claims are revenge for cases brought against it by Sony in December. Sony claims the Seoul-based company is infringing seven of its patents relating to LG phones. Sony has also filed a civil lawsuit against LG Blu-ray players.

LG and Sony are the world's second- and third-largest TV makers, trailing Samsung.

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About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

Comments (52) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

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MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #1 1 year ago

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No they don't, don't be silly. This is just another patent war of words, they always start asking for stuff to be removed from sale.

Edited by MENTAL1ST at 08/02/11 @ 09:45
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sfp_noodle #2 1 year ago

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Round 1 - FIGHT!
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Golgo #3 1 year ago

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Yep, this is likely. I imagine the US will back the South Koreans fully on this one.
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PixelPirate #4 1 year ago

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Well I like the LG Blu-Ray playback, but I also like the Sony Ps3 Blu-Ray playback

which one is better?

Theres only got to be one way to find out....
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TafKas #5 1 year ago

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My dad is better than your dad.....
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AcidSnake #6 1 year ago

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But if they're quoting blu-ray patent infringement why block Bravia TVs as well?
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toy_brain #7 1 year ago

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Random thought.
If Samsung decided to get into the console business, would anyone else stand a chance?
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acridweasel #8 1 year ago

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@AcidSnake
Because some Bravias have built-in Bluray players.
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Beano #9 1 year ago

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Heard at Sony HQ : "Sorry, our lawyers are very busy right now... can you call back later?"
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Timotei #10 1 year ago

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@toy_brain

If it was shit, then yes.
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AcidSnake #11 1 year ago

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@acridweasel:

Ah cheers, didn't know that...
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menage #12 1 year ago

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Blah blah blah
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Moribundman #13 1 year ago

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I wouldn't be surprised if the actual BR players inside these machines were LG manufactured to be honest... It wasn't until I had to replace my PSP screen that I realised those screens are manufactured by Sharp, and not Sony! Branding is clearly visible on the chassis...
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spiritsnake #14 1 year ago

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dint sony bring about blue ray?? im confused
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CloisterBlack #15 1 year ago

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And I want to become the Intergallactic Pope. I hope I'll achieve my goal one day.
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Slikz #16 1 year ago

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Yeah, good luck with that.
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toy_brain #17 1 year ago

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@Timotei
Airtight logic sir!
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Cappy #18 1 year ago

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Sony were involved in the creation of Blu-ray, yes. It counts for nothing though if they don't hold they right patents in the US though.

Patent law is in dire need of reform really, the DualShock rumble debacle for instance, Immersion were granted a patent for a method of creating rumble, Sony were already using that method in their controllers but obviously hadn't patented it.

Result. Millions of PS3 controllers with no rumble.
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DreadedWalrus #19 1 year ago

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They're likely to be successful!

/sarcasm
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jesperj5 #20 1 year ago

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@spiritsnake: I agree, I don't get it. It is Sony's invention isn't it?

@Moribundman: Until recently Sony and Samsung produced the panels in a joint venture, and the manufacturing was done in South Korea, probably by Samsung. However, in order to be more competitive Sony teamed up with Sharp, since Samsung is more of a direct competitor.

Conclusion: Whatever it says on the tin is not indicating which company actually invested research and technology in the product.

And as for a Samsung console. So far the Sourh Koreans are very good manufacturers, but not much technological progress is coming out of their two manufacturing behemoths. It will come, but it takes years to build up the sort of human capital it takes to drive innovation.
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Spekingur #21 1 year ago

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It's actually South-Korean VS Japan fighting on US soil. So to speak.
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blarty #22 1 year ago

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Like how it's only in the US..... proves what a ridiculous patent system that the US has...no understanding of prior art, all stacked in favour of the patent 'holder' that's why we have all these parasitic companies whose only business is to buy patents and then litigate against people
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CloisterBlack #23 1 year ago

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speaking of "parasitic companies whose only business is to buy patents and then litigate against people"
read and laugh

Edited by CloisterBlack at 08/02/11 @ 10:46
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coolbritannia #24 1 year ago

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Not nice when people file ridiculous law suits against you, is it Sony?
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BabyJesus #25 1 year ago

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Meh, just another day in corporate to and fro. Nothing will come of it.
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killyourtv #26 1 year ago

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Life is Not Good
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respectyourelder #27 1 year ago

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corporate handbags at dawn
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DrStrangelove #28 1 year ago

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Where's Kim Jong Il when you need him?
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paulf #29 1 year ago

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somewhere in america two sets of lawyers are rubbing their hands in glee
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Toothball #30 1 year ago

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So is it worth panic buying some PS3s? Better safe than sorry!
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kangarootoo #31 1 year ago

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@Moribundman

About half the LCD screens on the planet are made by sharp (and the other half seem to be made by Samsung ).
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Bander #32 1 year ago

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A Samsung console? It'll probably have the best specs and sell for a reasonable price. But then they'll release similar, incompatible devices at a rate of once a month, confuse developers, forget to advertise the ones which are actually the most innovative, and then give up support for anything that's over a year old.
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Darren #33 1 year ago

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Hmmm... I can't say I've been impressed by LG electronics in the past, which is why I opted to fit a Samsung BD drive into my PC recently and not an LG one.

Anyway, good luck trying to get the PS3 banned, LG... you're going to need it!
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sonicyoda #34 1 year ago

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@toy_brain

What are you on? Samsung have no prior experience in the game industry so they'd have to come out with some sort of miracle console to do the business their tellys do.
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kangarootoo #35 1 year ago

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@sonicyoda

Or partner up with someone (dunno who, ToysRUs? Amstrad? )
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callum9999 #36 1 year ago

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Darren - I'm not hugely impressed with them either but their warranty system is second-to-none.

The HDMI port in my TV/Monitor stopped working after 2.5 years, and the very next day a courier arrived, gave me a new one on the spot and took my old one away, completely free of charge. I initially went for the model because the 3 year warranty looked decent - I had no idea it would be this good!
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Whatsfor #37 1 year ago

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Lucky Goldstar indeed. This will go nowhere, nothing will happen.
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toy_brain #38 1 year ago

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@sonicyoda
Oh I was just saying it for the hell of it.
Then again, Sony had no prior experience in the console manufacturing industry (unless you count that thing with Nintendo that never came out) before the PS1, and they absolutely stormed it.

So y'know, it could happen. Not very likely, but they already make computers, so its not completely impossible.
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Murton #39 1 year ago

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Patent law is genuinely fucked up pretty much everywhere. The original iPod infringed dozens of patents belonging to several different that had been held for years previously, but the devices were already on the market and selling by the truckload, by the time the case was finally heard the patent holders had little market share and Apple simply paid a settlement and obtained a license blissful in the knowledge that they'd sewn up the market nice and tight.

LG and Sony will be a similar story to the recent mobile phone battles. Both companies have been in the same business for years so if they look hard enough they'll find loads of infringements between them and this game of patent tennis will continue for years wtih resolution. Patent law should be reformed so that cases are heard quickly and companies are forced to buy licenses where necessary, the very idea of blocking the sale of items already on the market is ridiculous and just plain bad for consumers.
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koopahell #40 1 year ago

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Bet they're working on a plan to make PS3s blow up by sending horrible viruses through the HDMI cable from their TVs if they don't get their own way. Get me a tin hat.
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mcwildcard #41 1 year ago

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Stop acting like a pair of bitches and get on with selling your own products.
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davisorle #42 1 year ago

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Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012
sonicyoda #43 1 year ago

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@toy_brain

True, true. Although I'm pretty sure the machine they were supposed to be developing with Nintendo wasn't actually scrapped and was actually key to the development of the PSone (or so I have read).

Either way, the key to making the best consoles is giving developers' the simplest development kit. All the failed consoles are the one's that are difficult to program for. No developer support, no decent games, no purchase.

Edited by sonicyoda at 08/02/11 @ 13:56
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Moz #44 1 year ago

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@toy_brain the ps1 was the outcome of the Nintendo partnership. Nintendo pulled out pissing off Sony who then went out & out to beat Nintendo at their own game.
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Collymilad #45 1 year ago

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Loving all the Sony fanboys, doesn't your finger get tired hitting the neg button all the time making your stupid little point?

This won't happen, but it's nice to see a decent sized entity poke Sony for once, they are very good at doing the same to other people.
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inutaihanyou #46 1 year ago

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The PS3 won't be banned here. We may have a terrible corporate system, but there are things that just have to deal with common sense, and this is one of those things.
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lockload #47 1 year ago

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Does it matter the ps3 has been destryed in the USA bu wii/360
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Lucodeath #48 1 year ago

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Sony spokes person has said "The bluray drive is to be deactivated as its in conflict with patent stuff how ever we will provide a tape drive"
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riseer #49 1 year ago

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I bought a Lg window AC unit if that counts.This won't happen lol companies do this everyday it happens..
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riseer #50 1 year ago

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Hey colly this isn't about the fanboys this is about a shit company, like LG trying to sue over shit that happens everyday.
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zedzee #51 1 year ago

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Oh no! I'm getting a feeling of deja vu...It's like Immersion vs Sony!

[link url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/01/sony-and-immersion-reach-settlement-feel-good-vibrations/
]http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/01/sony-a...[/link]
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wampdog29 #52 1 year ago

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I'm a bit confused. I understand this is basically all talk, but isn't Sony one of the main companies behind the creation and development of Blu-ray? How could LG even possibly begin to sue for something like this?
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