Mitsubishi (and the world) sue Vizio over MPEG-2 patents
By Richard Lawler 
posted June 5th 2008 2:40PM
posted June 5th 2008 2:40PM
It's no secret the rest of the display industry hasn't been happy with Vizio shaking up the low end with its cheap HDTVs, and now Mitsubishi and others have joined in a lawsuit accusing the manufacturer of refusing to license necessary patents. The 15 patents allegedly violated are for MPEG-2 compression that Mitsu, Sony, Samsung, Philips, Thomson, JVC and Columbia University of New York claim Vizio refuses to license. Vizio says it don't need no stinking licenses, since its suppliers already have them and it believes these licenses extend to its products. MPEG-LA also filed a similar suit against Target's TruTech house brand of televisions; while we'll have to wait for a ruling on the case to see who is right, it seems if they can't compete with these lower prices, other manufacturers will make sure cheap HDTVs cost more to make. For its part, Vizio says it does not believe this suit will have a materially adverse impact on its business, so for now, let the low-price flat screens roll.Read - Mitsubishi, Samsung Sue Vizio Over Video Patents
Read - VIZIO Comments on MPEG-2 Lawsuit By Electronics Competitors
Mob effect - who's next:
Vizio
Olevia
Westinghouse
Zenith
Isn't Zenith owned by LG?
yes
These Vizio sets are no where near great. Average at best. I'm still liking the low prices though, keeping the higher-end competition honest.
To me, it's either go Vizio, Westinghouse, or Olevia, or go Kuro. I just don't see any reason to pay 2k for a set when the quality difference between the vizio plasma and the samsung (or similar) is meager at best, when a few hundred or another 1k will get you a Kuro.
I'm sure others disagree, but I kind of have a bang for your buck mentality. I either want to get a lot for my money, or get the best. Going in between the most for my money and the best just seems like not getting a very good deal while at the same time not getting the best.
Sounds like a weak suit. To claim the suit's base is because they cannot compete with Vizio's lower price is to suggest the licensing fees per unit are outrageous. This is just a patsy excuse to attack a competitor at the only attackable aspect they can.
Let me go buy another Vizio ... or two or three. :)