Posted May 25, 2007 at 02:34AM by Ian C. Listed in: Blu-Ray, News Tags: Sony, SCEA, Sony Pictures, Target Technology Company
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Blu-ray - Image 1 


California-based Target Technology Company has filed a suit against Sony earlier this month. The technology company is seeking "damages multiplied due to willful infringement" for alleged patent violation relating to Sony's current high-definition format bet, Blu-ray.

Here's the deal: Target Technology Company's patent revolves around the use of certain silver-based alloys that are more resistant to corrosion than pure silver, and has the advantages that gold has. The patent was filed in April 2004, and was granted to Target during March of 2006.

That was then, this is now. Now, Target Technology Company named Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), Sony Pictures, and Sony DADC in its lawsuit. Target claims that products under the Blu-ray name - this includes PS3 games and that new Blu-ray HD movie you've got in your closet - infringes on Target's patent for reflective layer materials in optical discs

What's odd about this legal action though, as pointed out by the folks at GameSpot, is that Target Technology Company didn't specify in its suit if all manufactured Blu-ray discs infringe on Target Technology Company's patent or just a portion of discs manufactured in certain ways.

This situation isn't new to Sony. It can be recalled that it had to pay damages to Immersion Corporation in dispute over the rumble function in Dual Shock Controllers. Since then, the two companies moved past their former issues and there are even reports that Sony and Immersion are working on a new project that should introduce rumble technology to PS3 products.

So will this lawsuit affect Sony and the Blu-ray's apparent success as a format in other regions? Given that Sony might also figure out a convenient way to settle this legal problem like before, it seems unlikely.

Thanks to QJ reader Spirit Hawk Leon for the tip!


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14 Comments


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   by Quixand - 2007-05-25
 » oh please!!!

"The patent was filed in April 2004, and was granted to Target during March of 2006."

Blu Ray has been introduced way before that said patent was granted!!!!

just another company looking for a huge pay day by trying to piggyback on a huge corporation!!! picking on Sony who is just one of numerous entities responsible for the Blu Ray Technology...


   Re: BlacKDraGoN_ - 2007-05-26
 » yea

man this is all a bunch of bull*****, they could never win in court.
if im not mistaken, didnt SONY already have a patent on blu-ray since 2005?
   by TeaBaG (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » ahh

Ahh Blu-ray is a consortium not Sony, surely they would have to sue the consortium?

   by Matt (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » Wow

I see that that technology has failed to sell therefore they need to sue to get money.. good job! i congradulate you on sueing a company for profit.

   by Real Gambler (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » A conspiration?

Since BluRay is a consortium and Sony is only a part of it, I'm sure some guys will say it's a conspiration. Something along the line: Microsoft is secretly founding Target to go specifically after Sony while they a down a bit....

Now, where's my aluminum hat....


   Re: Jimmy (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » probably

Microsoft did exactly that

remember the SCO case


I need an aluminum hat


   Re: NOYS - 2007-05-25
 » yeah

cuz sony didnt steal rumble
so they couldnt have stole blu raytech.
yeah right

   Re: SeanRoss - 2007-05-25
 » ...

Conspiration or Conspiracy?

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: mr toasty (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » noys you're a nub

lets reverse your statement, it will sound just as retarded.

cuz sony stole rumble
so they must have stole blu raytech.
yeah right


Seeing a pattern here?
   by Mentality - 2007-05-25
 » As Quixand Said

The format has been known of seens almost the beggining stages of development of the PS3, so why only now is there an issue, they would have known from the initial outset. LIARS

   by Rammek - 2007-05-25
 » Conspiracy theory...

Wonder if company or companies behind the HD-DVD spec are propping up this company so it can bring this lawsuit to court... hmm...

   by America (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » This is why america is *****ed up

This is a freakn joke, they better not get a dime for this. Why does every american feel they have to sue everyone? This is so typical trying to make money off of a huge corporation because yours is bombing.


   Re: exploso (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » the dream

it's the american dream to get as much money as possible so you can stick it in your ears..but people dont want to earn it anymore..they want to take the easy way out, so they find anyone possible they could try and sue..like it's said: you can sue anybody for anything for any reason..but that doesnt mean you will win..these people wont get squat.
   by KUYA (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » thinking

hmmn i am wondering why these companies didnt warn those big companies like sony that they are gonna infringe some copyright beforehand. and why do patent office allow registering of similar products? they should have approved sony's if there was already something similar patented. the patenting system has serious issues. can inventors sue copycats, if so then everything can be sued because everything is invented by by some legendary people. light, electricity, plastic etc. someday there will be nothing to invent because everything is patented.



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