Panel maker Chimei sues Sony over patents

(AP) -- Taiwanese flat-panel display maker Chimei Innolux has filed a lawsuit in Delaware expanding its patent-infringement dispute with Sony.

The federal lawsuit filed Monday accuses Sony Corp. of violating three patents owned by Chimei Innolux Corp. in the manufacturing of products including televisions, notebook computers and Cyber-shot digital cameras.

Chimei filed a similar federal lawsuit in Arkansas last month accusing Sony of violating three different patents.

The lawsuits follow a complaint filed by Sony in March with the U.S. International Trade Commission accusing Chimei and other companies of violating several Sony patents involving digital televisions and monitors.

Meanwhile, Arkansas' attorney general said last week that he is joining his counterparts in four other states suing Chimei and other makers of liquid crystal display panels over alleged price fixing.

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