Content area
Full Text
Inventor Files $85 Million Lawsuit Against Japanese Firms.
A black inventor reportedly has filed a $85 million lawsuit against Japan's four largest makers of televisions and video cassette recorders: the Sony Corporation, Mitsubishi, JVC and Panasonic.
These Japanese-based firms, sellers of more TVs and VCRs than American manufacturers, are accused of "U.S. patent infringement," said Joseph N. Jackson, inventor.
Jackson invented the Programmable Television Receiver Controllers in 1977, and it was approved by the United States Patent Office on Oct. 14, 1980.
Four of Japan's major TV-VCR manufacturers have, "without my authorization, basically used my ideas (inventions) in their televisions and video cassette recorders," Jackson claims.
Consequently, Jackson, a 20-year retired Army Sergeant, said he has engaged Attorney David Catwell to represent him in his $85 million lawsuit against the Japanese TV-VCR manufacturer quartet -- now pending in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Jackson, seemingly irate at his first legal counsel, attorney Thomas Girardi. "He (Girardi) totally mishandled...