The local branch of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ltd confirmed yesterday that it had been notified of a potential patent infringement case by a Taiwanese optical component maker.
"We received the letter from Exquisite Optical Technology Co (今湛光學科技) and our headquarters was alerted of the issue," Silver Huang (黃怡超), senior marketing manager of Sony Ericsson Taiwan, said in a telephone interview.
Exquisite Optical has claimed that the world's leading phone maker has violated the intellectual property rights (IPRs) of its auto focus lens.
"We understood that the problematic camera module came from Sony Corp and our research and development is now surveying the component to clarify details," Huang said.
He said that IPR infringement cases are common among technology companies, but Sony Ericsson has always respected other firms' IPR.
Sony Ericsson, along with other foreign heavyweights such as Nokia Oyj and Motorola Inc, are popular in the local handset market.
International Data Corp Taiwan has said that these brands commanded about a 65 percent stake of the local handset market in the fourth quarter last year, which saw a total of 1.8 million phones sold.
Taichung-based Exquisite Optical announced on Tuesday that it was considering suing Sony Ericsson for patent violation.
Set up in 1997, the company produces optical mirror slices, optical lens and IC substrates, which are used widely used in cameras, cellphones and telescopes.
"Our lawyer issued a letter to Sony Ericsson Taiwan last week and it has yet to get back to us," said Richard Chang (
The firm said that it had discovered in February that the auto focus lens used in Sony Ericsson's popular 2-megapixel camera phone K750i had infringed upon its IPR.
Exquisite Optical has held patents for this camera module in Taiwan and the US since 2001, Chang said.
The company has not ruled out taking legal action against Sony Ericsson, or asking for compensation and a ban on the sales of the phones that use the questioned technology, Exquisite Optical said.
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