Wuxi Multimedia, etc, v. Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V., dba Philips Intellectual Property and Standards, Sony Corporation of Japan, Pioneer Corporation of Japan, and LG Electronics (Anti-Trust/Patent Licensing).
The case was groundbreaking. Philips, Sony, Pioneer and LG were members of a patent pool trust that used their patents to control United States DVD sales and imports. At the time the DVD player industry exceeded sales of more then 70,000,000 units a year. Handal & Associates, representing a Chinese based manufacturer sued the group of companies claiming that they joined to fix prices, exclude competition and otherwise violate the Sherman Act through their patents. The suit resulted in a break-up of the foursome leading to greater competition in the DVD patent licensing business resulting in lower prices for DVD player to United States consumers. The case was groundbreaking because it represented the first time that a Chinese company brought suit against huge multinationals in the United States based on applications of American Anti-trust law. The case featured, the firm’s ability to find creative solutions to complex and difficult problems as well as its ability to dig in against the largest and most difficult of adversaries.
