Seoul signs Osram deal, claims Nichia patent win
LED makers Seoul Semiconductor and Osram have agreed a cross-licensing deal over patents relating to white and visible emitters.
While specific details of the agreement have not been divulged, Seoul says that the deal will see the two companies collaborate and work as "strategic partners".
Precisely what that means remains to be seen, but with the two parties saying that they will cooperate to defend intellectual property rights, the move may help in future battles with Japanese rival Nichia.
Seoul is also claiming a US court victory against Nichia. The Korean firm s legal representatives at Bingham McCutchen announced on August 24 that a district court judge in Northern California had dismissed Nichia's claim of patent infringement against Seoul.
"[The judge] rejected Nichia's allegations that Seoul had induced the infringement of four Nichia patents and entered judgment in favour of Seoul," stated the legal firm.
Beth Parker from the legal team added: "This is a vindication of Seoul Semiconductor's business practices. The ruling reduces Nichia s initial claims for millions of dollars to [only] thousands of dollars."
With the Osram agreement in place, Seoul now has strategic partnerships in place with most of the world s major LED manufacturers, having already signed agreements with both Cree and Toyoda Gosei.
According to its own estimate, Seoul now ranks as the world s eighth-largest LED manufacturer.
