WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission said Monday it will launch a probe into three Japanese and four other Asian manufacturers and their local arms for alleged patent violations over optical disc drives for computers, DVDs, game condoles and other products.
Nintendo Co., Panasonic Corp. and Toshiba Corp., plus LG Electronics Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea, Lenovo Group Ltd. of Hong Kong and Media Tek Inc. of Taiwan are subject to the investigation.
The move is based on a complaint filed in September by New Hampshire-based Optical Devices LLC that alleges the products imported and sold in the United States infringe its patents and requests the commission to issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
The ITC has not yet made any decision on whether there has been a violation, it added.