BEIJING, Feb. 17 -- Chinese flash-memory product maker Netac launched a lawsuit against its US counterpart PNY Technologies for infringements of its patent, a move to try to get a level playing field in its overseas development.

    

Netac President Deng Guoshun speaks at a press conference yesterday in Beijing to announce the company had filed a lawsuit against its US counterpart PNY Technologies for infringements of its patent. (Photo: China Daily)

Shenzhen-based Netac said yesterday in Beijing that it filed a lawsuit against PNY Technologies in a federal court in the Eastern District of Texas on February 10.

    The company claimed PNY Technologies violated its patent, registered in the United States, on electronic flash-memory external storage method and device. It is asking for compensation on the alleged infringement, but the company declined to reveal the amount.

    It also requested the court to suspend the sales of PNY's flash-memory storage devices.

    "We want to get a fair competition in the United States, while Netac is expanding its presence in the overseas market," said Deng Guoshun, president of Netac.

    The lawsuit is one of the rare cases of a Chinese company suing a US firm for infringements of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the United States, while many Chinese companies got complaints from foreign companies on similar accusations.

    "It is an encouraging sign that Chinese companies become mature in using IPRs to protect their interests, as more and more Chinese companies have developed their own innovations and the country is trying become an innovative nation," said Hu Zuochao, vice-president of Patent Protection Association of China.