Vizio has rapidly become one of the biggest TV makers in America. The company announced recently that in Q4 2008 it was the second largest TV shipper in America beating out many of the largest global TV makers.

Vizio has announced that it is seeking FCC help against Funai Electronics to stop what Vizio calls “extortionate demands” for patent licensing fees being imposed by Funai. Vizio says that when the FCC adopted the digital TV standards in effect for the U.S. it imposed patent license agreements, which Funai isn’t following.

Funai is threatening to block Vizio products from the U.S. market if Vizio doesn’t agree to license a Funai patent for an amount that Vizio says is equivalent to the cost of licensing a group of over 30 patents from seven different companies. The FCC has yet to rule on the allegations made by Vizio.

Vizio