Germany tech fair disrupted by patent raid

The CeBIT trade and technology fair in Germany had a different kind of presentation as police and customs officials raided the show due to suspected patent violations, and seized cellphones, navigation devices and other gadgets.

This according to an Associated Press report, which stated that more than 180 officials were involved in the raid at the annual trade show. Hanover police disclosed they filled 68 boxes with gadgets, documents and advertising material. The seized gadgets included cellphones, navigation devices, electronic picture frames and flat-screen devices, a police statement said.

The police said they took the identities of nine people. Of the 51 exhibitors affected, 24 were from mainland China, three from Hong Kong, 12 from Taiwan, nine from Germany and one each from Poland, the Netherlands and Korea.

The police explained that the number of complaints by patent right holders as the yearly event approaches has been rising for years. The alleged patent violations concerned MP3, MP4 or digital video broadcast devices, DVD players and blank CDs and DVDs.

The police added that the patent holders had already pointed out to the exhibiting firms the lack of licensing contracts and asked them to get in touch.