When Toshiba bowed out of the HD-DVD game last February, most people believed that we'd seen the last salvo in the acrimonious format wars. Sony's Blu-ray format -- and by default its iconic blue laser -- would embrace its destiny as the physical hi-definition medium of choice in the 21st century.

But hold on -- what's this? According to an announcement posted over at the website of the US International Trade Commission, a widespread investigation has just begun into the legal particularities of several huge companies intimately involved in the Blu-ray hardware and electronics business. Up for debate? Whether or not all that fancy blue laser technology in your hardware may actually violate several previously undisclosed intellectual property patents. In other words: potentially big trouble for the electronics industry.

Specifically under the microscope are patents on "certain [blue and violet] short-wavelength light emitting diodes, laser diodes, and products containing same" which a woman named Gertrude Neumark Rothschild of Hartsdale New York claims prior rights (and patents) on.

While it might seem like a small issue on the surface, patent infringement suits in the world of modern intellectual property litigation are no joke -- as evidenced by settlement with rumble-technology patent holder Immersion. More than 30 big name companies including Sony, Hitachi, Pioneer, Sharp, Nokia, LG, Motorola and Toshiba are specifically named as being under investigation by the ITC as a result of the suit. Potentially every product that makes use of a blue or violet short-wavelength diode or laser is at risk.

Whether this will mean a heavy blow to the Blu-ray industry (and, by implication, the PS3 and its stakeholders) remains to be seen. It isn't known at this time specifically which patents or technologies might be affected by Ms. Rothschild's claims, and at the time of writing Sony had not officially responded to the investigation one way or the other.

ITC administrative law judge Hon. Paul J. Luckern will soon be scheduling an evidentiary hearing to determine whether there is, in fact, enough evidence to proceed with a section 337 violation charge. If the case proves to hold water however, the ITC will announce further details -- including a theoretical litigation timeline for when we might expect a trial or settlement date.