TV manufacturing giant Sharp filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday alleging a foreign arbitrator's gag order against it violates the company's First Amendment rights.

Sharp, represented by Venable partner Randy Miller, asked the court for a preliminary injunction against an order issued by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre in a proceeding with Chinese manufacturing company Hisense and its U.S. subsidiary. Hisense is fighting to keep its licensing agreement with Sharp, and the order forbids Sharp from “making public statements or press releases” about the arbitration or dispute between the companies.

The complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said such an order clearly restricts Sharp's ability to do business in the United States, and limits its ability to communicate with regulatory agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission.