Sony faces Blu-ray patent lawsuit. PlayStation 3 at risk. Image: Sony/Blu-ray.
With a recent consumer report revealing that Sony’s Blu-ray format is struggling to find market traction, the high-definition standard is now facing a potentially costly court battle with Orinda Intellectual Properties USA, which claims that Sony’s HD platform infringes on its patented technology.
According to an August 20 court filing lodged by California-based Orinda, Sony’s Blu-ray technology infringes on patent number 5,438,560, which is connected to the recording and reproduction of information on optical discs.
EDGE magazine reports that Orinda’s accusation of patent violation covers Sony divisions including Sony Electronics, Sony Computer Entertainment and also Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA).
While looking to secure a “reasonable royalty” from the Japanese consumer electronics giant through a jury trial, Orinda is also seeking an injunction against Sony with regard to the manufacturing, sales and distribution of Sony-branded Blu-ray players.
“Orinda has been and will continue to be damaged as a result of Defendants’ infringing conduct,” claimed the Intellectual Properties company through its filing. “[Sony’s] infringing conduct will continue unless permanently enjoined by this court.”
The parameters of Orinda’s injunction request also include Sony’s PlayStation 3 home videogame console, which comes equipped with a Blu-ray player as standard and has shown itself to be one of the main contributing factors to Blu-ray’s somewhat fragile foothold in the high-definition market.
Orinda’s Blu-ray challenge is not the first time Sony has found its HD format in the legal firing line. Specifically, California-based Target Technology accusing Sony of violating its reflective layer materials patent back in May of this year, while respected LED expert Prof. Gertrude Neumark Rothschild accused Sony of infringing on one of her patents in March of 2008.
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