NEWS: Consumer electronics firms investigated for patent infringement

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Reuters has reported that virtually every major player in the home entertainment market is under investigation for patent infringement.

A Columbia university professor has claimed that she was responsible for the tech breakthrough that allows the production of blue and ultraviolet LEDs.

Emeritus professor Gertrude Neumark Rothschild filed the complaint last month and the US based International Trade Commission has recently picked up the case for investigation.

Many products from Blu-ray players to mobile phones use the technology and, along with Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, LG and Panasonic are all being investigated.

While the investigation isn't of immediate concern to consumers, the outcome could see manufacturers paying royalties to use blue and ultraviolet LEDs and, possibly, a decline in their use within future products.

Technorati Tags: Blu-ray, LED, Mobile phone

Andy Clough
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.