As Sony continues to promote its Blu-ray format, another relatively unknown company has launched a lawsuit against the popular Japanese company, in an attempt to cash in on Blu-ray. The Orinda Intellectual Properties USA Holding Group says Sony has violated some of its patents related to Blu-ray technology, and is ready to go to battle in civil court.
Specifically, the infringed patent involves "methods for recording and reproducing information via optical disc," according to the Aug. 20 lawsuit, which was filed in a Texas Eastern District Court.
Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Electronics and Sony Computer Entertainment America were named as defendants in the lawsuit against Orinda. Orinda is requesting a jury trial, and wants royalties, for Sony to stop manufacturing the PlayStation 3 game console, and any other Blu-ray product Sony offers.
Unfortunately, Orinda did not go into specifics regarding how Sony is infringing on its patents, only stating that it has suffered "damage."
"Orinda has been and will continue to be damaged as a result of Defendants' infringing conduct," Orinda said in a statement published on the company's web site. "Defendants' infringing conduct will continue unless permanently enjoined by this court."
Sony has faced numerous lawsuits regarding Blu-ray technology since the format was released. In May 2007, Target Technology sued Sony trying to claim that the reflective materials used on optical discs infringed on Target Technology's patents. The court took just a few months to dismiss the lawsuit over patent 7,018,696.
The Orina lawsuit will also likely be thrown out at some point, but it's still be a minor annoyance for Sony, as the company continues to try and promote the Blu-ray format in the future.
Since I doubt this is a legitimate lawsuit in which Sony will actually have to shell out some cash, it's a shame to see their lawyers have to waste time with crap like this.
Looks like another tiny company trying to steal a few bucks off Sony/Blu Ray
I son't think Sony is worried. They are more concerned with trying to recoup R&D costs associated with Beta-ray.
Wow Bitrate, you should think of persuing a career in comedy....brilliant stuff.
Sony doesn't have to be worried about these "patent slime-balls".
The fact that Orinda "did not go into specifics" tells me that their case won't hold up in court. The courts will throw this one out faster than anybody could ever imagine.
Orinda: Get your proof, or get the h*ll out! Sony's gonna squish you like a bug!!!!! No proof = no case ... 'nuff said!
Excellent, and I hope we get hundreds of these lawsuits for every new technology that a big company makes.
May they sue the entire patent system to death!
Thats the only way to get sanity back in the system. Make the big guys so tired of the whole thing that they ask all the politicians they sponsor to shut the patent offices down.
We did not get to where we are here now, by not copying and improving on other's ideas .I guess if the Portuguese patented ship designs our north american asses would be still back in Europe. The Americas would be null. If we continue down this path we won't see any inovation for decades ala Bush / Mccain Stupidity War Lovers.. Although no a single person from any bank has ever been arrested for war crimes even though wars can not WORK without money and banks!!!!!
If you invent a product you should get the credit for it.. However you shouldn't allow your invention to be the only one for a thousand years.. Aristotle anyone??
Live in Canada but America wake up !!! Elect Obama so your ass won't go out on yet another War!!! and yet another massive debt to China.. Christ I think Chine owns USA now.. Scary!!
The problem with Obama is that if we allow him into office we will be up She*t Creek for sure. We already have a war, so guess what happens when a young junior senator comes into office! He'll pull our troops out and that will make all of those Islamic countries think that we gave up and went home. The next thing you know they think that they can take us out, so then we end up with a nuke in the heart of America! They can and if they get a chance will use it on us, I know that Russia is up to no good as well! PUTIN is a Dictator and all he wants to do is run the middle-east, you'll see just look the info for yourself!
We in the United States live in the most litigation prone society in the world, it should be no supprise that another friviolus lawsuit has been filed, the bottom line is that although lawsuits are always claimed to be over unfairness or damages the truth is it's NEARLY always the MONEY, thats just the way we are un the United States of America.
Sony ... isn't that the company which sued the innovative BLEEM! producers to death ... the product that allowed us to play OUR PlayStation games on OUR computers? That Sony? No tears here for that Sony. 
