Toshiba Corporation has filed a lawsuit at the District Court of Milan's Specialised IP Chamber against Italian DVD replicator ACME SpA to halt infringement of Toshiba's DVD patent. The Japanese manufacturer seeks injunctive relief and declaration that ACME is liable for damages.

ACME has not entered into license agreements with Toshiba or the DVD6C Licensing Group, and has engaged in the manufacture and sales of DVD video discs in Italy without permission. Toshiba contends that ACME's infringement of its patent has damaged is DVD-related business, and also caused damage to the legitimate and licensed DVD product manufacturing and distribution business as a whole.

On behalf of the DVD 6C, Toshiba has previously filed lawsuits in the US against infringement of its DVD patents, against an American importer and wholesaler of DVD-related products in 2005 and against 17 manufacturers and importers of DVD-related products in April 2007.

The company also brought a lawsuit in Germany in July 2007, against a German DVD disc replicator. Toshiba says it "will continue to take appropriate action against infringements of its DVD technology patents to promote development of a healthy DVD industry."

Story filed 08.01.08