LG defeats U.S. firm’s patent claims in German court

A German court has ruled in favor of LG Electronics Inc. on a technology patent suit filed by U.S. technology firm Rovi Corporation, company officials said Wednesday.

The ruling handed down Tuesday by a court in Mannheim, Germany said that LG Electronics did not infringe on a patent on organizing preferred channels for televisions.

In April last year, the U.S. electronic program guide solution provider filed for an injunction with the German court against LG Electronics to ban sales of its televisions, claiming LG has infringed on technology patents for its products.

The lawsuit came as LG Electronics rejected Rovi’s request to pay license fees for its patent.

LG Electronics argued that the patent claimed by Rovi Corporation is irrelevant to its products, adding the U.S. firm’s stance on the scope of patent is “too broad.”

“Our firm will make tougher efforts to battle unfair patent infringement claims and will actively prepare for related lawsuits,” said Kim Joo-sup, a patent official from LG Electronics. (Yonhap News)