This seems VERY strange. Every washer on the market uses steam technology, or at least offers steam. Miele is actually kind of "new" to steam, so why would LG being going after Miele and not say Electrolux, GE, Bosch.....??

The article was very vague, and does not really say what Miele "stole" from them..

Yeah that article was vague, which made it pointless.

You want them to specify in an article for the general public how specifically LG contends Miele is infringing on LG Patents?

You want them to publish the material portion of LG's legal brief? That seems kind of ridiculous.

Obviously LG does not believe GE,Electrolux, Bosch etc are infringing on their patents. They contend they way Miele is doing it specifically is infringing on their patents.

Could this could this be "fake news"?

Could be fake news, yes enduring and deeageaux please check your snippy attitude at the door. Thanks!

This dates back to October. Miele confirmed that LG "sent them a letter" about the use of steam during the wash cycle (and how it's produced, I guess). Apparently, LG holds over 500 patents on the use of steam in a washing machine. I guess what LG does not like is that Miele uses pressurized steam (aka a steam generator similar to the ones in their coffee machines) and not just the heating element under the drum.

I find this a case of the pot calling the kettle given LG's history of copying Fisher Paykel's direct drive washer motor and at least the interior look of Bosch and Miele dishwashers, but they certainly did not copy the reliablity. 500 Patents for steam, I doubt there are 500 parts in An LG front load washer!

Hmmm. LG dropped using an independent steam generator several model generations ago. No doubt to keep production cost low and margins high. Patent?? Samsung also used a generator in the past. So ridiculous!

LG still uses a steam generator in Europe and maybe other 24" models elsewhere. According to the various press releases, this whole thing is about "the production of steam during the wash". Whatever this means.

So far, LG only seems to have sent a letter to Miele, looking for a "friendly solution" out of court in a personal meeting "to protect LG's reputation and its rights to the exclusive technology".

The 500 patents include several countries, like Europe, the US, China etc. so LG basically added all individual ones up to get to 500.

Interesting. To me the whole steam thing is overrated. It does little in way of raw cleaning power to blow a few puffs of steam around. In commercial machines, steam was injected as a mechanism to raise water temperature, which as you know is the real cleaning power. I get the impression LG is seeking claim to some properitary wash cycle using steam or the fashion its delivered. Good luck on that one.

Sin I never use my steam. IMHO its nothing more than a gimmick on my machine. It sure isn't boosting the water temp since before it steams it drains the wash water. It also doesn't steam long enough to be beneficial in any way. But this isn't what this post is about anyway LOL

I could also imagine that LG is after the PowerWash 2.0 system that uses only steam the heat the load (besides there being a dedicated steam generator for the steam dewrinkle option).

@trainee - ok I get it now. Thats exactly how turbo wash functions and exactly how LG steam and heat functions. Could be something to it after all. Notice in both machines, steam is produced from the heating element and small amount of water. Never knew it was patented though. But Samsung lost there ass with Apple in the phone market, when Sammy copied similarities. The later is strictly unrelated to this topic though. FWIW turbo wash has been around for a few generations of LG,s.

There have been several manufacturers that sprayed detergent over the clothes while spinning - Hoover 8 Pulse, Whirlpool Catalyst and the Electrolux JetSystem from the 80s come to mind.

Steaming from underneath the drum seems the preferred method these days; at least in the US - steam washers don't get too much attention over here. I don't think this could possibly be patented as most manufacturers do it this way.

Miele's steaming method is pretty smart. Their PowerWash 2.0 washers have been the first washers in years to combine the highest energy efficiency, yet heat the clothes up to the selected temperature. Normally, our Energy Label cycles "Cottons Eco 140°F" only heat to about 120°F to save electricity. LG's Eco cycle even stops heating at below 80°F and extends this cycle's duration to over four hours to compensate for the lack in thermal energy.

Seems like Much Ado About Nothing at least in the states that is. It's hard to believe LG would lose sales, patent or not. They're just two different markets, one's a luxury brand uber expensive, and the other is mass produced in China. The sad thing is, if Miele made a decent size machine, I would much prefer Miele over LG. lol, they must hold the patent on 3 cubic foot drums.

All joking aside. I think its a carefully planned business stragedy on LG,s part. By obtaining hundreds of patents it keeps invocation at bay from competitors. Even though the patents are stupid with meaningless useful technology. It,s about squeezing competition and growing market share.