It was only a couple of weeks ago that I wrote a blog item about Blu-ray discs. The question came out about whether counterfeit Blu-ray players exist (got to be more profitable than knocking off Blu-ray discs, right?). Click here for the original posting.

Guess what? Blu-ray disc players themselves may have infringed a patent owned by a Columbia University professor emeritus. The U.S. International Trade Commission is going to launch an investigation into some 30 U.S. and foreign companies on possible patent infringement related to Blu-ray disc players and other products, Reuters reported.

The commission posted a news release Thursday on its Web site, explaining the issue in dispute:

The products at issue in this investigation are short-wavelength (e.g., blue, violet) LEDs and laser diodes that are used in products such as hand-held mobile devices, instrument panels, billboards, traffic lights, HD DVD players (e.g., Blu-ray disc players), and data storage devices.

The list of involved companies highlights big names including Sony Corp., Nokia, Motorola Inc., LG Electronics Inc., Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB.