The US International Trade Commission is to investigate a number of smartphone makers, including Samsung, LG and Lenovo/Motorola, following a complaint by media technology company Creative.

Other companies named in the probe are BlackBerry, HTC, Sony and ZTE.

Creative, which said its product line includes “premium wireless speakers, wireless headphones, and power audiophile-grade amplifiers and digital audio converters”, filed a complaint relating to “the capability of playing stored media files selected by a user from an hierarchical display”.

It is requesting “a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders”.

The watchdog noted that by starting its investigation, it has not made any decision on the merits of the case.