HumanEyes Files 3D Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Sony

WASHINGTON, DC—March 29, 2012—HumanEyes Technologies, a global provider of end-to-end solutions for creating, displaying and printing 3D images, filed lawsuits with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware asserting that certain Sony cameras, mobile phones and related software infringe two of HumanEyes’ groundbreaking patents on the creation and display—including printing—of 3D images.

HumanEyes asks the ITC to institute an investigation into Sony’s infringement and to permanently bar Sony from importing the infringing products into the United States—including at least 32 of Sony’s Cyber-shot and DSLR digital camera models and at least 10 Xperia mobile phone models.

The two patents—U.S. Patent Nos. 6,665,003 and 7,477,284—are both based on inventions made at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem by world-renowned Computer Vision expert and HumanEyes co-founder Professor Shmuel Peleg and his students. Professor Peleg and his team discovered a breakthrough new method for generating 3D panoramic images by combining portions of multiple images recorded by an ordinary camera. This discovery makes it possible to bring inexpensive 3D photography to digital cameras and mobile devices and was the basis for founding HumanEyes Technologies.

Sony’s decision to incorporate HumanEyes’ patented technology into its cameras and mobile devices comes after multiple communications between HumanEyes and Sony employees dating back to 2004 and after numerous citations by Sony in its own patents and patent applications to Professor Peleg’s work and the two asserted HumanEyes patents.

HumanEyes explained in its ITC complaint that taking legal action to defend its intellectual property rights against Sony is necessary to protect HumanEyes’ own investments in the U.S. market for creating and displaying 3D images.

“HumanEyes remains committed to working with interested camera and other device manufacturers to incorporate HumanEyes’ innovative 3D imaging technology into devices under agreements that respect HumanEyes’ intellectual property rights,” said CEO Vered Levy-Ron.