Hitachi Files Plasma TV Patent Suit Versus LG

On Monday, a Hitachi subsidary filed a patent infringement suit against LG Electronics and one of its subsidiaries for the improper use of Hitachi's plasma display panel technologies.

Hitachi Plasma Patent Licensing (HPPL) had been working with Seoul-based LG Electronics and LG Electronics USA in an effort to hammer out a licensing agreement, but talks "reached an impasse - and - HPPL filed the lawsuit to resolve the dispute," according to Hitachi.

Hitachi claims that LG's plasma display panel products infringe on seven of Hitachi's patents. Hitachi is seeking monetary damages and a permanent injunction, which would prohibit LG from using those seven patents and from importing or selling its plasma display panel products in the United States.

At the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, Hitachi debuted a new 50-inch 1080 HDTV plasma for under $2,500, while LG Electronics launched its own 50-inch 50PC1DRA plasma in February.

Copyright 2007 by Ziff Davis Media, Distributed by United Press International