Californian company Target Technology is demanding that three Sony-related companies stop manufacturing and distributing all Blu-ray discs. Target Technology alleges that the technology used to manufacture Blu-ray discs violates one of its patents.

Target Technology specializes in manufacturing and selling thin metallic alloys for optical discs.

Target Technology filed its complaint in the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana against Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Pictures and Sony DADC.

In addition to demanding that Sony stops manufacturing patent-infringing Blu-Ray discs, Target Technology is also looking for significant damages for Sony’s “deliberate and willful infringement”.

The patent in question describes metal alloys for the “reflective or the semi-reflective layer of an optical storage medium”. These silver-based alloys offer the benefits of gold, but at a lower cost. These silver-based alloys are also said to be more corrosion-resistant than pure silver. Target Technology applied for the patent in April 2004; the patent was granted in March 2006.

Patent infringement is nothing new to Sony. Sony recently settled a dispute with Immersion, a company that specializes in tactile feedback devices. Immersion argued that the rumble feature of the PlayStation 2’s DualShock controllers was based on its technology. Sony also recently settled a dispute with Kodak over ten digital camera patents.

What are the options for Sony if it is found to have infringed Target Technology’s patents?

Well, it can do one of two things. It can develop, acquire or license an alternative technology, or it can go into some very painful negotiations with Target Technology so it can continue using the current technology.

Let’s hope for Sony’s sake that Target Technology doesn’t have an open and shut case.

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Entry was posted on Sunday, May 27th, 2007 at 4:19 pm under Legal, Uncategorized.

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