Accusations of misconduct and gamesmanship are flying fast in a battle at the U.S. International Trade Commission that pits Straight Path IP Group, a self-described patent monetization company, against major electronics companies whose devices stream content from Google Inc. and Netflix.
Straight Path beat an abrupt retreat from the ITC on May 5, filing a motion to terminate its own case just eight days ahead of a decisive hearing. But instead of celebrating, LG Electronics, Toshiba Corp. and Vizio Inc. lashed out at Straight Path’s tactics. In a brief filed on May 9, they accused the company of using the costly ITC litigation to try to force them into settling frivolous claims. The device-makers urged the ITC to revise its rules and to considering sanctioning Straight Path for its eleventh-hour withdrawal. And they condemned Straight Path for filing fresh claims against Netflix in federal court at the same time it surrendered at the ITC.
