Sony and Blu-ray Concoct Lawsuit

Target Technology (TT), a Californian company is taking legal action against Sony due to claims of patent infringement. The tension was sparked by Sony's use of Blu-ray technology in its PlayStation 3 games console.

The angered party contends that the technology Sony used to produce Blu-ray discs violates one of its patents. The copyright, which was granted to Sony in 2006, "describes the use of silver-based alloys, which have the advantages of gold in the production of the discs, but at a lower cost." (Source: channelregister.co.uk)

In terms of demands, Target Technology wants three Sony-related companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Pictures, and Sony DADC, to stop manufacturing all "patent-infringing Blu-ray discs." The firm's goal is to collect significant compensation for the alleged infringement. (Source: theregister.com)

Will Sony be prepared to stand its ground in court? Likely, since this lawsuit is not the first patent-related conflict in which Sony has been aggressively sought. Three months before Target Technology filed its complaint, Immerson dueled with Sony over the rumble function in Sony's Dual Shock controllers. In addition, Sony recently completed a dispute with Kodak over digital camera patents.

While the current proceeding may distress those who support Blu-ray technology, the rainbow after the storm is soon to appear. A newly proposed standard for content sharing and digital rights -- The Advanced Access Content System (AACS) -- will permit limited copying and sharing of Blu-ray discs.

If the DRM (digital rights management) system is accepted, "consumers will be able to make copies of discs they have purchased by using an AACS enabled disc." A function of the copy system will be to restrict the number of copies that clients can make of discs.

The introduction of AACS into the consumer world has been delayed as a result of numerous hacking efforts. However, production studios hope to have this new technology on the market in time for this winter's holiday shopping period (Source: theregister.com)