Honeywell sues myriad of LCD TV makers for anti-flicker technology

If you think LG has a mess on its hands, it's suddenly not alone, as six other manufacturers touching one point or another in the LCD TV supply chain are now facing a patent lawsuit from Honeywell. In what smells awfully like another patent instance of patent trolling, Honeywell is suing Acer, AU Optronics, BenQ, Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Renesas Technology, and Denmos Technology as it claims that a patented "method of stopping liquid-crystal displays from flickering" has been unrightfully used. The firm has reportedly "sustained damages and will continue to sustain damages in the future," which they feel should translate into receiving incredible amounts of cash in order to resolve the situation. Reportedly, five of the six outfits under the lawsuit said that they "had not been informed" about the issue just yet, but we doubt it'll be too much longer before it floats to their respective legal departments.

[Via Inquirer]

[Mark @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:00AM]

We need major reform in our patent system. Patents should only protect those who are actively using the technology patented and who have made reasonable attempts to inform anyone else they believe is infringing. Every day now you read about someone who sits on a patent until somebody else makes money (through actual effort and risk) and then tries to cash in.

[Kilraven @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:16AM]

Yes, Honeywell is losing millions, nay, billions in lost revenue to Acer and the like. [insert obligatory eye roll here]

Honeywell was first using the technology on 3" and 5" internal cockpit displays. Which we all know that Acer is now making 19" LCD Ground-Proximity and/or Traffic-Avoidance Collision Systems for most of Boeing's aircraft.

[Dixonij @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:46AM]

Do patent trolls get off in attempting to kill technological innovation and progression by suing the crap out of companies who actually can produce the goods instead of sitting on their asses and doing nothing?

[TMeister @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:56PM]

My grudge against Honeywell just seems to grow worse by the day! Do they have finished products out there on the market using their technology? If not, would their patent claim work like a trademark and not work (like a prior art argument?).

[Dan @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:54PM]

Honeywell makes the displays for commercial aircraft cockpits -- a situation where minimizing flicker is critical. It's true that they probably don't directly compete in the consumer space, but protecting intellectual property doesn't work that way. In this particular case, I'd have to side with Honeywell protecting their LCD patents.

[Maff @ Mar 23rd 2007 6:17PM]

my thermostat is a honeywell!

[TMeister @ Mar 24th 2007 10:26AM]

Thanks for clarifying that, I tend to forget the industrial / non-consumer side of things here.

[dixon @ Mar 29th 2007 10:19AM]

If an individual say, Thomas Edison, spent his time perfecting something, e.g. light bulb, patented it, but doesn't have the $ to set up manufacturing, it doesn't mean his work is less valuable or he should not be rewarded. IBM's would be a patent troll by your definition since they have so many inventions that they don't put into products. Their research centers invent things years ahead of their time.

[ed w @ Apr 2nd 2007 8:12PM]

I like how all this outsourcing is coming back to bite a lot of companies.

Company A develops a component,then out sources production to company B,
at the trade show the following year company A spots their technology in
company B’s own brand name product.