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Chinese gadget maker sues HP and Toshiba

In a flap over over USB patents

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Beijing-based gadget maker Aigo is suing HP and Toshiba for patents relating to USB ports.

Aigo has filed against HP in a Beijing court and against Toshiba in Xi'an. It has also written to Dell, Samsung and Sony, Global Times reports.

The company, which sponsors the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team, is seeking one million Yuan ($146,000) compensation.

The case centres on six patents registered in China but valid worldwide.

None of the companies named would comment on the report.

Aigo makes USB Flash drives, camcorders, projectors, iPhone accessories and digital photo frames.

An HP spokeswoman said HP refutes the alleged infringement.

China has long been regarded as the bad guy over how it conforms to intellectual property laws. But it emerged this week that some "made in China" brands are now being faked elsewhere as Chinese wages and costs rise. The problem is made worse because many Chinese firms do not bother to protect their own intellectual property. ®

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"Hoist by their own petard!"

Ah-Ah! So now China is getting a taste of the soup it has been dishing out for the last few years. Welcome to the global market Guys!

Andrew Newstead

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Anonymous Coward

Dr Evil

Lol, I demand the sum... OF 1 MILLION DOLLARS!

Why make trillions when we can make...BILLIONS?

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Article correction required

"the patents were granted in China, but are valid worldwide"

That situation, as (too-) summarily described, does not exist in Law:

* EITHER correspondings patents were granted in all jurisdictions the world over (so, for each Chinese patent, a corresponding US, European, Australian, etc. patent - you get the gist);

* OR patents were only granted in China, and therefore are not 'valid worldwide' (they are only valid in China).

Moreover, a "valid" patent supposes that its subject-matter is provably demonstrated as new and inventive. It's a big call to claim a patent to be "valid", without it being battle-tested (by a Court, rather than a Patent Examiner).

(that's not taking anything from the Chinese Patent Office, though: in my experience, Chinese Examiners are tough, much more so than US and GB Examiners).

I would welcome further clarification, or a suitable rectification by The Reg.

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