VIZIO Files TV Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Funai

VIZIO Files TV Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Funai

- Seeking Injunction and Monetary Damages

IRVINE, Calif., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- VIZIO, Inc., the Number One Shipper of Flat Panel HDTVs in the USA, announced today that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Funai Electric Company, Ltd., a Japanese distributor of digital televisions and related components and its wholly-owned subsidiary Funai Corporation, Inc.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090204/LA66605LOGO)

In the suit, VIZIO, a U.S. company based in Irvine, California, alleges that Funai, acting alone and in concert with others, infringes numerous VIZIO patents in its manufacturing, importation and distribution of high definition televisions. Funai manufactures and distributes high definition televisions for declining market share brand names, including Philips, Magnavox, Emerson, Sylvania, and Symphonic.

VIZIO is seeking an injunction prohibiting Funai from importing and selling infringing high definition televisions and is also seeking award of damages for millions of past infringing sales.

Laynie Newsome, VIZIO Co-founder and VP Sales and Marketing Communications, stated, "Unlike Funai, our patent portfolio has not been rejected by the USPTO, we at VIZIO respect the rights of intellectual property and we will not stand by while foreign competitors misappropriate our intellectual property."

About VIZIO

VIZIO, Inc., "Where Vision Meets Value," headquartered in Irvine, California, is America's HDTV Company and Consumer Electronics Company. In 2007, VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becoming the #1 selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America and became the first American brand in over a decade to lead major categories in U.S. TV sales. Since 2007 VIZIO HDTV shipments remain in the TOP ranks in North America and are again #1 in Q1, 2009 with over 20% market share. VIZIO is committed to bringing feature-rich flat panel televisions to market at a value through practical innovation. VIZIO offers a broad range of award winning Plasma and LCD HDTVs including the new XVT series. VIZIO's products are found at Costco Wholesale, Sam's Club, Sears, Walmart, Target, BJ's Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorized online partners. VIZIO has won numerous awards including a #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companies in Computers and Electronics, Good Housekeeping's Best Big-Screens, CNET's Top 10 Holiday Gifts and PC World's Best Buy among others. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at www.VIZIO.com.

The V, VIZIO, Where Vision Meets Value names, phrase and symbols are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective holders.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090204/LA66605LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: VIZIO, Inc.

CONTACT: Jim Noyd of Noyd Communications Inc., +1-310-951-3768,
jim.noyd@noydcom.com; or Charley Fitzwilliam of Leader Enterprises,
+1-949-579-0405, cfitzwilliam@leaderenterprises.com, both for VIZIO, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.vizio.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos, additional information and interview requests should be directed to agency.

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