Chinese DVD Makers Sue Over Royalties

Viceice writes "Afterdawn.com and DigiTimes are among many other news outlets reporting that DVD player makers from China are suing the 3C DVD Patent Group over royalties on patents held by the consortium. The suit accuses 3C alliance for price-fixing, unlawful tying of essential and non-essential patents together, group boycott and conspiracy to monopolize. According to the Chinese companies, typically U.S. patent licensing fees for other products are between 3 and 5 percent of the item's wholesale price, compared to the 50 percent for DVD players."

Comments

Re:It's a fixed amount, not a percentage

[jonny4001]

Getting a patent does not give you the right to violate other laws, including antitrust laws. If you do, it is within the power of the courts to impose compulsory licensing.

Re:It's not a US technology

[evilviper]

This has nothing to do with US technology.

No, but it has everything to do with the US patents.

The defendants are the US branches of these companies. And the legalities are up to US courts.

If the court rules that the fees much be reduced, then all DVD players sold in the US can pay those reduced fees. The fees might remain massively high in Japan, but that doesn't matter for DVD players in the US.