Vizio files TV patent suit against LG in U.S.

SEOUL, June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. TV brand Vizio Inc has filed a patent infringement suit against South Korea's LG Electronics Inc (066570.KS), seeking an injunction to ban LG from importing and selling certain TVs in the United States.

Vizio said in a statement dated June 5 it filed the suit against LG and its U.S. unit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

It alleged LG infringed numerous Vizio patents in certain products including high-definition TVs. It did not elaborate.

LG said it had sued Vizio in September 2008, alleging similar patent infringements in Vizio's TV products.

"We think this is Vizio's response to our earlier suit," spokesman Kim Gyeong-whan said.

Along with the injunction, Vizio said it was also seeking award of damages for past infringing sales.

Vizio, whose TVs are made by Taiwan's Amtran Technology (2489.TW), ranked No. 1 in the North American liquid crystal display (LCD) TV market in the first quarter, ahead of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS), Sony Corp (6758.T) and LG. (Reporting by Rhee So-eui; Editing by Jerry Norton)