Lumileds sues Epistar over AlGaInP LED patent
In the complaint, Lumileds accuses Epistar s AlGaInP LED products of willfully infringing Lumileds US patent no. 5,008,718.
The patent in question relates to the use of a transparent GaP window layer to enhance the brightness of AlGaInP LEDs. Several years ago, Lumileds had a dispute over the same patent with Epistar’s Taiwanese rival UEC, which was resolved in October 2001 (see LumiLeds and UEC settle AlInGaP LED litigation and consider future partnerships).
The current complaint against Epistar seeks both enhanced monetary damages for past infringement and an injunction against future importation or sale of the infringing products in the United States.
In this same case, Lumileds had earlier alleged infringement by Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary, Cecol, Inc., based upon their importation and sale of Epistar s AlGaInP LED products. The Citizen claims have now been settled and only the claim against Epistar is still in the case.
"Lumileds holds more than 100 patents in the area of high-brightness LEDs and continues to pioneer the development of solid-state lighting technology,” said Mike Holt, Lumileds CEO.
“We will continue to vigorously guard the intellectual property enabling these advances. This includes enforcement of our rights in court when necessary.”
