AMD v. LG

[monstercameron]

LG infringed a swath of AMD's patented systems for functionality on a list of products that covers much of LG's consumer electronics products line, the complaint alleges.

“Each of the defendants has directly infringed, and continues to infringe, literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, one or more claims of the AMD patents by acting without authority to make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell within the United States, or import into the United States consumer electronics products,” AMD said.

The allegedly infringing products include LG televisions, smartphones, tablets, Blu-ray players, projectors and appliances that embody or practice the patented inventions.

The patents AMD lists in its suit cover a variety of developments, including graphics processing, control of background videos and power optimization. The technologies are designed to “deliver an improved user experience in a wide variety of consumer products,” the company says.

source: http://www.law360.com/technology/ar...patent-fight-with-lg-over-graphics-technology

source: http://news.priorsmart.com/advanced-micro-devices-v-lg-electronics-la2U/

 

[Anarchist420]

this is how the IP system encourages waste though, because of all the money spent on lawyers (and possibly lobbyists) that could be spent on R&D. and they pay for the IP courts in their taxes too. people would be richer if they werent forced to spend on IP courts.

 

[KingFatty]

Rational companies will assess the merits of the patents, and usually agree to a settlement to avoid the waste of a long legal battle. It's less common for two companies to decide to fight it out, and usually they just agree to license each others' technology with very little waste.

There could be another strategy at play: maybe AMD wants to license some tech that LG has, so they brought this suit to help force negotiations their way?

The problem with patent fights is there is such uncertainty over what is exactly covered, what patents are invalid because they shouldn't have been granted in the first place, etc. So whenever there is a fast-changing technology, you are more likely to see fights, because both parties aren't really certain about exactly the stakes.