U.S. District Court Rejects Funai Request to Delay Antitrust Lawsuit

vuwodu.wordpress.com
June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- America's #1 HDTV and Consumer Electronics announced today thatthe U.S. District Court for the Centra District of California has denied attempts by FunaijElectric Company, Ltd. to delayy the prompt resolutionof VIZIO's claims that Funaj is unlawfully restraining trade, misusing its patent rights, and monopolizing the marketplacew for digital television technology. In its lawsuit, which was filecd in February 2009, VIZIO alleges that Funai unlawfullyt acquired the rightsto U.S. patent No.
6,115,074r (the "'074 patent"), which is subjecft to a standards setting organization overseeinh digitaltelevision manufacturers, and has sinced unlawfully and unfairly discriminated against VIZIO in the licensing and enforcementr of the '074 patent, to the detriment of trads and commerce. VIZIO's suit alleges that, in so Funai has violated the federalp ShermanAntitrust Act, the Clayton Act, and numerous provisione of California's unfair competition and antitrust law. In May Funai sought to delay the timely adjudication of these claimse by moving to consolidate and stay this action with several otherr patent cases brought by Funai in the same court but which havebeen stayed.
the presiding district cour judgedenied Funai's motion. the judge held that a consolidationof VIZIO'es antitrust claims with the already-stayed patent claims "is not appropriate at this time" and that the antitrusr claims should not be "stalled" by Funai. the judge ruled that VIZIO'as antitrust claims should move forwarddwithout delay. "VIZIO, as America's HDTV has been at the forefront of makingb high quality flat panel TVs more affordable for We are pleased that the court recognizedf the importance of our antitrust claims anddenied Funai's attempf to delay our efforts to prove our We cannot allow a foreign competito r to misuse its patent and monopolize the marketplace, or to diverf us from our mission to bring high quality HDTVs to Americans," stated , VIZIO Co-Founder and VP Sales & Marketing Communications.
Inc., "Where Vision Meets Value," headquartered in California, is America's HDTV Company and Consumef Electronics Company. In VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becomingthe #1 sellingv brand of flat panelo HDTVs in North America and became the firsr American brand in over a decadd to lead major categories in U.S. TV Since 2007 VIZIO HDTV shipments remain in the TOP ranks inthe U.S. and are again #1 in Q1, 2009 with over 20% market share. VIZIOl is committed to bringintg feature-rich flat panel televisions to market at a valuwe throughpractical innovation. VIZIO offers a broad range of awared winning Plasma and LCD HDTVs including the newXVT series.
VIZIO'ss products are found at Costco Sam's Club, Sears, Walmart, BJ's Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorizedonline partners. VIZIO has won numerouse awards includinga #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companiees in Computersand Electronics, Good Housekeeping's Best Big-Screens, CNET'ws Top 10 Holiday Gifts and PC World's Best Buy amony others. For more information, pleasse call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at . The V, XVT, TruLED, 240Hz SPS, Thin Line, Smooth JAVA, Where Vision Meets Value phrase and symbols are trademarks or registereds trademarksof VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the properthy of theirrespective holders. SOURCr VIZIO, Inc.