Sony asks US to block LG phones
WASHINGTON — Sony Corp. has filed patent-infringement claims seeking to block LG Electronics Inc. from shipping mobile phones to the United States.
Sony filed complaints with the US International Trade Commission and in federal court in Los Angeles. The commission, which is considering at least a dozen cases related to the expanding market for smartphones, has the power to block imports of products found to violate US patents. The court can impose penalties.
LG phones are using Sony technology without permission, Sony said. LG, the world’s third-largest maker of mobile phones, is also targeted in Sony’s suit for its Blu-ray disc players.
Sony patents in the court case include ones related to a way to display phone-number listings, direction keys on a portable phone, and signal transmission.
LG did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Global sales of all models of mobile phones to end users rose 35 percent in the third quarter to 417 million units, Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner said last month.
There were 80.5 million smartphones sold.
