Toshiba announced today that the Company filed a lawsuit in Germany against German DVD replicator EDD Bizz GmbH on July 4, 2007.

The suit was brought to the D?sseldorf Regional Court against EDD Bizz GmbH (EDD) and its managing director, Mr. Denny Holwerda, as a means to halt infringement of some of Toshiba's DVD patents. Toshiba seeks injunctive relief and declaration that EDD is liable for damages resulting from its infringement of Toshiba's DVD patents.

Toshiba licenses patents essential for meeting DVD format specifications. EDD has not entered into license agreements with Toshiba or the DVD6C Licensing Group, and has engaged in the manufacture and sales of DVD video discs in Germany without permission, according to the Japanese company.

"EDD's infringement of Toshiba's patents has damaged Toshiba's DVD-related business, and also caused damage to the legitimate and licensed DVD product manufacturing and distribution business as a whole. In filing the lawsuit, Toshiba prepares to recover monetary damages, and secure agreement from EDD to respect Toshiba's intellectual property rights in future," Toshiba said.

Toshiba has previously filed lawsuits in the US against infringement of its DVD patents: against Taiwanese DVD drive manufacturers in 2002; against an American importer and wholesaler of DVD-related products in 2005; and against 17 manufacturers and importers of DVD-related products in April 2007.