Toshiba files DVD patent suit in Germany

Toshiba Corporation filed a lawsuit in Germany yesterday against a German DVD disc replication firm.

The suit was brought to the Düsseldorf Regional Court against EDD Bizz GmbH and its managing director, Denny Holwerda, in an effort to halt alleged infringement of "some of Toshiba's DVD patents".

The Japanese electronics giant is seeking "injunctive relief and a declaration that EDD Bizz is liable for damages resulting from its infringement of Toshiba's DVD patents".

Toshiba licenses patents essential for meeting DVD format specifications, and has accused EDD Bizz of not entering into licence agreements with either Toshiba or the DVD6C Licensing Group.

EDD Bizz is therefore engaged in the manufacture and sale of DVD video discs in Germany "without permission", Toshiba alleges.

"EDD Bizz's infringement of Toshiba's patents has damaged Toshiba's DVD-related business, and caused damage to the legitimate and licensed DVD product manufacturing and distribution business as a whole," Toshiba stated.

"In filing the lawsuit, Toshiba prepares to recover monetary damages, and secure agreement from EDD Bizz to respect Toshiba's intellectual property rights in the future."

Toshiba has previously filed patent infringement lawsuits in the US against Taiwanese DVD drive manufacturers in 2002, an American importer and wholesaler of DVD-related products in 2005, and 17 manufacturers and importers of DVD-related products in 2007.