Taiwan's AUO files counter-suits against Sharp

Taiwanese flat screen maker AU Optronics Corp said Thursday it had filed patent lawsuits against Sharp, in an escalating battle after the Japanese firm took action targeting AU.

In two lawsuits in US courts, "AUO is seeking an unspecified amount of damages and permanent injunction against the infringing products, among other reliefs," it said in a statement.

AUO launched the counter moves after Sharp sued the company and six others in January for allegedly infringing its patented liquid crystal display technology.

AUO alleged the infringing products covered a variety of Sharp's liquid crystal display products, ranging from small to large size, including Sharp's Quattron series LCD TVs, according to Thursday's statement.

The complaints were filed with the District Court for Delaware and the Central District of California.

AUO launched the counter moves after Sharp sued the company and six others in January for allegedly infringing its patented liquid crystal display technology.

Sharp sought an order to prohibit imports and sales in the United States of LCD panels and modules that use the technology in two complaints filed with the US International Trade Commission and District Court for Delaware.

The six customers of AUO that Sharp alleges use LCD panels and modules adopting its technology include South Korea's LG Electronics and China's Haier.

The litigation came after Sharp and AUO failed to renew a contract at the end of 2010 to license Sharp's patented LCD technology to AUO.