23 April 2012

Everlight files patent infringement lawsuit against Nichia in USA

Everlight Electronics Co Ltd (Taiwan’s largest LED assembly manufacturer) has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Japan-based LED-making rival Nichia Corp in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin Nichia from manufacturing, using, importing, offering for sale, or selling its infringing products in the USA. The firm also seeks monetary damages. In addition, it is asking the US court to declare two Nichia patents invalid, unenforceable and improperly issued by the US Patent Office.

Everlight says that the legal action is part of its continued global effort to enforce its intellectual property rights and to protect its products and its customers from litigation attacks by Nichia.

In its complaint, Everlight is seeking enforcement of US Patent No. 6,653,215, which covers LED metallization technology. The firm is the exclusive US licensee of the patent, which is owned by Emcore Corp.

Uses for Nichia's LEDs being sold in the USA that are alleged to infringe on the patent include residential lighting products, street lights and spotlights. The market for these products is growing rapidly in the USA as consumers, electric utilities and utility regulators seek to reduce overall electricity consumption and cost. Highly energy-efficient LED lights consume substantially less electricity than equivalent incandescent light bulbs, Everlight notes. LED lights also last more than 100 times longer than equivalent incandescent bulbs and more than 10 times longer than equivalent compact fluorescent bulbs.

Everlight is also asking the US court to declare that Nichia's US Patent Nos. 5,998,925 and 7,531,960 are invalid, unenforceable and improperly issued by the US Patent Office and that Everlight’s LED products do not infringe on those patents. Those patents cover the use of certain types of phosphors in making white-light LEDs.

See related items:

Nichia files patent lawsuit against Everlight’s white LED products

Tags: Everlight Nichia LEDs

Visit: www.everlight.com

Visit: www.nichia.com