Ampex targets Sony in infringement suit

Ampex announced on Monday that it has filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission, seeking to bar Sony from importing into or selling digital cameras or PDAs with built-in digital cameras in the United States. It also filed a patent infringement lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages.

The Redwood City, Calif.-based company said it has been in active negotiations with Sony and other major digital-camera makers to set up acceptable royalty payments on its patents. The company also made similar claims against Sanyo in late May. Sony has one of the top market share positions in the digital-camera market. The electronics giant is also embroiled in a suit with Eastman Kodak over digital-camera patents.