Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - Sony Sued Over Blu-Ray Technology

http://www.iplaw360.com/secure/ViewA....aspx?Id=24105

Quote:

Portfolio Media, New York (May 4, 2007)--A maker of optical disc coatings has filed a lawsuit against three Sony Corp. subsidiaries over its next-generation media storage Blu-ray Discs.

Target Technology Co. LLC filed the suit Wednesday, claiming that Sony’s Blu-ray Discs “embody” its patented invention for a silver-based alloy thin film used as a coating layer for optical discs. The alloys are highly reflective and protect discs from corrosion.

The suit, which names as defendants Sony subsidiaries Sony DADC U.S. Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., asks for a jury trial for damages and an injunction to keep Sony from further infringement.

A spokeswoman for Sony said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

The patent, titled “metal alloys for the reflective or the semi-reflective layer of an optical storage medium,” was issued on March 28, 2006.

Sony has heralded Blu-ray Discs as the next-generation of high-capacity format digital versatile discs, or DVDs. The discs are read by a blue laser, rather than a traditional red laser, and can store up to 10 times more information than standard DVDs.

Sony’s Blu-ray technology is endorsed by Panasonic, Dell Inc., Philips, Samsung Electronics and seven top studios in Hollywood. It is competing with HD DVD technology, which also are read by blue lasers, to become the media format that replaces DVDs. HD DVD technology is backed by Toshiba, Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., HP and others.

Both technologies promote larger storage capacity than conventional DVDs, along with better image and sound quality. Blu-ray can store almost double the music, photos and movies of HD DVD, but it is also significantly more expensive.

Target Technology has two other lawsuits pending in California and New York federal courts regarding a separate patent for alloys used in optical discs. Target accuses metals and alloys maker Williams Advanced Materials Inc. and its optical disc making customers of infringing ten patents in the cases.

Irvine, Calif.-based Target Technology said its founder Han Nee developed the highly reflective silver alloy material that is used in a majority of DVDs on the market today. The company also has offices in Japan and Taiwan, as well as a subsidiary based in the Netherlands.

The patent in the Sony case is U.S. Patent Number 7,018,696.

Target Technology Co. LLC is represented by Woodard Emhardt Moriarty McNett & Henry LLP.

The case is Target Technology Co. LLC v. Sony DADC US Inc. et al., case no. 1:07-cv-0561, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana..

If Sony loses it sounds like it's the end of Blu-Ray as we currently know it. So here's my questions:

1) If they lose is it possible for Sony to produce their Blu-Ray tech on a different media?

2) Do you think this company has a snowballs chance in hell of winning the law suit against Sony?