Samsung
The U.S. International Trade Commission yesterday said it would investigate the complaint filed Dec. 1. The case is part of an escalating two-year legal battle between the two companies over inventions used in liquid-crystal display televisions.
“By instituting this investigation, the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case,” the agency said in a notice posted on its Web site.
The Samsung patents relate to the way LCD screens portray the black and white portion of images, minimizing the effects of static electricity and improving the image quality. Samsung is seeking to block imports of Sharps Aquos HDTVs made in Mexico.
Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung won an earlier ITC order banning Sharp TVs from the U.S. That case is on appeal. In the meantime, Sharp continues to import its televisions, contending that it has altered the product to avoid using the Samsung invention in that case.
Samsung contends that Sharp is flouting the ITC order, and ITC Judge Paul Luckern said he will hear arguments on the dispute in April and release his findings by July 19.
Sharp won an order banning imports of Samsung televisions, also because of a patent dispute at the ITC. Thats currently under review by President Barack Obama.
The new ITC case is In the Matter of Liquid Crystal Display Devices, 33-699, U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington). The Sharp case against Samsung is In the Matter of Certain Liquid Crystal Display Modules, 337-634, and the earlier Samsung case is In the Matter of Certain Liquid Crystal Display Devices and Products Containing Same, 337-631, both ITC.