Osram files patent-infringement suits against Samsung and LG
Regensburg, Germany--Osram believes that its patents for white-emitting and surface-mountable LEDs are being infringed upon by both Samsung and LG, and has filed lawsuits against both companies.
The legal actions focus on intellectual property related to the electrical and thermal connection structures of Osram's LEDs, as well as to the phosphor technology that converts the blue light of the LED chip to white light.
Osram has filed legal actions against Samsung and LG in the US and Germany, as well as against an LG group company in Japan. Osram will also file a suit against LG in China tomorrow (June 7).
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 Samsung and LG from importing and selling infringing LEDs and products containing these LEDs, such as LED-backlit TV sets and computer monitors. In addition, Osram is suing for compensation.
A number of Osram's other competitors, including Philips/Lumileds, Cree, and Nichia have cross-licensing agreements with Osram, notes Aldo Kamper, CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors.
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John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)
John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.