OSRAM Initiates Patent Infringement Litigation vs Samsung and LG
OSRAM has filed legal actions against Samsung group companies and LG group companies in the US and Germany as well as against an LG group company in Japan and China. Based on its conviction that these companies, respectively, infringe fundamental patent rights, OSRAM intends to enforce its patents on LED technology.
In these lawsuits OSRAM stresses that Samsung and LG group companies infringe its patents on white and surface-mountable LEDs in the US, Germany, and, as far as LG is concerned, in Japan and China. OSRAM intends to prevent unauthorized use of its technology and seeks orders from the courts to prevent Samsung and LG from importing and selling infringing LEDs and products containing these LEDs. In addition, OSRAM is applying for compensation.
The legal actions focus on LEDs using technologies protected by OSRAM patents. These technologies relate to the electrical and thermal connection structure as well as to conversion technology, which is used to convert the blue light of the LED chip into white light. Typical applications of such white LEDs include, for instance, display backlighting for TV sets and monitors.
By taking royalty-bearing licenses, a variety of prominent companies around the world has recognized the value of the OSRAM patents on conversion technology.
“Our objective in taking legal actions against Samsung and LG group companies is to prevent unauthorized use of our valuable technology,” stated Aldo Kamper, CEO of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors. “We have a considerable number of patents which we developed in the course of many years of intensive research and development work. Major competitors such as Philips/Lumileds, Cree, and Nichia have acknowledged our strong IP position by entering into cross-license agreements with OSRAM,” explained Kamper.
Both LG and Samsung have filed various countersuits as reported here last month.