Some of you may remember when we posted Sony being sued by a Granny a few months ago. Well, that dispute is now resolved. Professor Emeritus Gertrude Neumark Rothschild settled out of court for an undisclosed amount of money (of course!!). The Columbia University professor alleged a violation to one of her patents earlier this year in February.

Dr Rothschild conducted “ground-breaking” research in the 1980s and 1990s into the electrical and optical properties of wide band-gap semiconductors. The research was pivotal in the development of short-wavelength emitting (blue/violet) diodes used in consumer electronics including Blu-ray. Rothschild was issued a US patent in 1993 that covers a method of producing wide band-gap semiconductors for LEDs and LDs in the blue/ultraviolet end of the spectrum.

Rothschild’s representative, Albert Jacobs from of Dreier LLP Intellectual Property, said that “Professor Rothschild is very pleased that both Sony and Sanyo, and other major electronics makers have recognized her major scientific contributions to LED and LD technology. Professor Rothschild made a seminal breakthrough, in understanding the doping requirements necessary for the production of the blue, green, violet and ultraviolet LEDs and LDs on a commercial and efficient scale that are essential to today’s consumer electronics, and highly deserves this recognition for her work.”

This was not the first settlement the the 80-year-old Professor received. She has received money from Philips Lumileds in 2006 and from Gosei Co. Ltd. and Toyoda Gosei North America Corporation earlier this year on very similar cases.

That is one smart lady

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A Granny is suing big electronic companies for allegedly violating her patent. Sony and 29 other giants such as LG Eletronics, Hitachi, Sharp, Toshiba, Nokia are being sued by this (apparently) sweet lady on the picture. “The action alleges that major electronics manufacturers in Asia and Europe have violated her patent for producing light emitting diodes and laser diodes in products, such as video players using Sony’s Blu-ray format, Motorola Razr phones and Hitachi camcorders.” /PRNewswire/

The “sweet” lady is Columbia University Professor Emeritus Gertrude Neumark Rothschild (yep, impressive title, huh?). Of course you don’t get to be a “Professor Emeritus” for nothing! You need to have some brains and that’s what she is using to cash in on this lawsuit. If she is able to prove that all those companies are infringing her LED patent she will probably receive some ridiculous amount of money! Either that or she wants the U.S. government to ban those companies’ imports to the U.S –LOL! Very unlikely! I would bet on the cash!–. A lot of companies use LEDs and laser diodes for a variety of reasons–Sony uses blue laser diodes in its Blu-ray players, for example, and LEDs are used as light sources in TV and notebook computer screens.

Wait a minute! This is not Dr. Rothchild’s first time suing big companies. Last week she settled with Philips Lumileds and in 2006 she settled with Gosei Co. Ltd. and Toyoda Gosei North America Corporation for the same LED technology on very similar cases. Guess what? The terms were “undisclosed”, which means a lot of cash!

Albert Jacobs, Jr., Esq. and Daniel Ladow, Esq., partners at Dreier LLP in the Intellectual Property Department, are representing the “Sweet” lady and this is their take on it: “Dr. Rothschild made a seminal breakthrough in the production of the blue and ultraviolet LEDs that are essential to a wide variety of consumer electronics products today,” Mr. Jacobs stated. “She richly deserves both scientific as well as commercial recognition for her work.”

The ITC will make a final determination in the investigation as soon as they can but within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the ITC will set a date for completing the investigation.

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