Are LG Electronics playing dirty with competitor Samsung? Yes, according to Samsung, who's accusing an LG executive of deliberately damaging their washing machines at a trade show.
The odd incident Samsung is referring to reportedly happened earlier this month at a Berlin trade show. Police were called after some LG employees allegedly damaged Samsung washing machines. LG agreed to pay for the damages.
But now Samsung is taking things a step further and asking for an official investigation into the incident. In a statement, the company said, "It is very unfortunate that Samsung had to request that a high-ranking executive be investigated by the nation's legal authorities, but this was inevitable."
At first Samsung didn't name the LG executive who was involved but LG told reporters that Jo Seong-jin, head of the company's home appliance division, is being accused.
LG also released a statement saying its employees were just trying to research their competitors when the machines were accidentally damaged and implied the machines broke because they weren't built well.
The statement read in part, "If our company had an intention to destroy products of a certain company to tarnish the image of the product, it would be common sense to not have our executives directly carry out such acts ... We hope that this is not an attempt to damage our reputation."
Its important to note these two electronics companies have been rivals for a long time.
For years, Samsung has been the clear leader in the rivalry, as it makes nearly four times what LG does. But, LG has reportedly been doing better recently after launching its G3 smartphone.
And while Samsung is the leader in smartphones and television sets, LG claims to be the world's largest washing machine producer.
A BBC correspondent said, "In the past, LG and Samsung have confronted each other over smartphones, televisions, fridges and air-conditioners. Washing machines is a new front in the global battle."
LG says it will cooperate with the investigation.
