3M Co. Takes on PC, Electronic Giants in Court

3M Co. filed suit against:

1. Sony Corp.

2. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.

3. Hitachi Ltd.

4. Lenov Group Ltd.

5. Illinois-based CDW Corp.

6. Indianapolis-based Batteries Com LLC

7. California-based Total Micro Technologies Inc.

Among other things, 3M makes cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries, the kind that have been catching on fire in laptop PCs made by Dell, Apple, Lenovo and supplied by Sony and Hitachi.

3M says the companies violated one or more of its patents…hopefully not the one that is flawed causing the batteries to burn more brightly.

The company is saying, ""3M has suffered and will continue to suffer, irreparable injury and damages."

That's what the PC makers are saying to the battery makers.

The companies named in the lawsuit have not had a chance to respond.

Do you think it is reasonable that all of these electronic giants stole the same technology from one place, 3M?