8 May 2012

Nichia sues Germany-based Everlight subsidiary Zenaro and distributor over YAG patents

Japanese LED maker Nichia Corp says that on 27 April it filed a patent infringement lawsuit at the District Court Düsseldorf in Germany against LED lighting firm Zenaro Lighting GmbH and the German distributor REGO-Lighting GmbH. Zenaro is an 80%-owned subsidiary of Everlight Electronics Co Ltd (Taiwan’s largest LED assembly manufacturer), according to Everlight’s ‘2010 Consolidated Financial Report’.

Previously, on 24 April, Nichia filed a patent infringement lawsuit at the same court against Everlight and its German subsidiary Everlight Electronics Europe GmbH of Munich, seeking permanent injunction, rendering account and damages against a white LED product (SMD Low Power LED 61-238/LK2C-B56706F4GB2/ET) manufactured by Everlight, which Nichia believes infringes its YAG (yttrium aluminium garnet) patent EP 936 682 (DE 697 02 929).

Subsequently, on 23 April, Everlight filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Nichia in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan seeking to enjoin Nichia from manufacturing, using, importing, offering for sale, or selling its infringing products in the USA, and asking the court to declare two Nichia patents invalid, unenforceable and improperly issued by the US Patent Office.

In its latest lawsuit, Nichia is seeking permanent injunction, rendering account, damages, recall and destruction against an office light of Zenaro (product number OL-Deluxe/QL2/P44/LF/D50/SR/M/CE/ZN) including white LED tubes (product number SL-Cobra/T5 048DC/C/P10/LF/D50/ZN), which Nichia believes infringes its YAG patent.

Nichia says that it is seeking to protect its patents and other intellectual property rights, and takes actions against alleged infringers in any country where appropriate and necessary.

See related items:

Nichia files patent infringement lawsuit against Everlight in Germany

Everlight files patent infringement lawsuit against Nichia in USA

Tags: Nichia Everlight LEDs

Visit: www.nichia.co.jp/en