Samsung files complaint vs. Sharp before U.S. ITC

Samsung Electronics Co. this week announced it has filed a complaint before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) over alleged unfair trade practices and patent infringement by Sharp Corp. involving LCD panels, according to an AP report.

In its complaint filed Dec. 21, the South Korean LCD maker claimed that Sharp and two U.S. subsidiaries engaged in unfair trade by importing and selling LCD products that infringe on four of Samsung's U.S. patents. Samsung is calling on the commission to investigate and ban from the U.S. market Sharp products that are said to infringe on Samsung patents.

Sharp earlier this month sued Samsung in a South Korean court, also alleging patent violations for LCDs. Sharp demanded damages and a halt to manufacturing and sale of TVs and display panels using the patents under question. The Japanese company had filed a similar lawsuit in August against Samsung before the U.S. federal court of Texas.

Samsung said it is also pursuing federal lawsuits against Sharp in the U.S. states of Texas and Delaware.