‘Consumers Would Suffer’ Under DivX-Sought Smart TV Import Ban, LG Tells ITC

Granting DivX the import ban it seeks against LG, Samsung and TCL would exclude more than half the smart TVs sold in the U.S., LG responded (login required) at the International Trade Commission in docket 337-TA-1222. The ITC voted Oct. 14 to open a Tariff Act Section 337 investigation into allegations that LG, Samsung and TCL smart TVs and MediaTek, MStar and Realtek video processors infringe four DivX patents on adaptive bit rate streaming (see 2010140042). Samsung and TCL also filed responses Wednesday that were publicly redacted. Though DivX claims the market would continue to be adequately supplied with smart TVs despite the “disruption” of an import ban against three brand-share leaders, “it makes no products itself and provides no evidence that any third party could meet demand,” said LG. “Competition and consumers would suffer.” Smart TVs during the pandemic “have been increasingly relied on for consumer entertainment experiences, streaming video, and remote learning experiences,” said LG. “These technologies are ubiquitous in modern life.” LG “does not, and has not directly or indirectly infringed any valid and enforceable claim” of the DivX patents, said the manufacturer. DivX didn’t respond to questions.