30 June 2016

Seoul Viosys wins UV LED patent infringement lawsuit

UV LED maker Seoul Viosys Co Ltd says that the US Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida has issued a judgment in which Salon Supply LLC (which sells UV LED curing device) acknowledges infringement of its asserted patents as well as their validity. Salon Supply has agreed to pay past damages, as well as a license fee, and to stop using unlicensed infringing products.

Seoul Viosys' asserted patents span a wide range of UV LED technologies including, but not limited to, LED packaging, LED chips and epitaxial layers, and UV curing device structure. Together, these technologies cover key components and features of UV LED curing devices.

Seoul Viosys was established in 2002 as Seoul Optodevice (a subsidiary of South Korean LED maker Seoul Semiconductor Co Ltd) based on a technical cooperation with Japan's Nitride Semiconductor Co Ltd (the first firm to develop long-wavelength UV LEDs, emitting at 360-400nm, in 2001). It is said to be the first firm specializing in UV LEDs (spanning epitaxy, chip, package and module manufacturing) and the first to develop short-wavelength UV LEDs. Seoul Optodevice was renamed Seoul Viosys in 2013 to denote its expansion from a visible LED and UV LED chip maker to a UV LED system provider.

In 2005 the firm made an equity investment in Sensor Electronic Technology Inc (SETi) of Columbia, SC, USA, and subsequently produced its first 254-340nm UV-C and UV-B (deep UV) LEDs. Seoul Viosys has since maintained close technical cooperation with SETi for over 10 years to commercialize UV LED chips with wavelengths below 350nm.

Last August, with the approval of the US Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), Seoul Viosys acquired a majority stake in SETi, and has continued expanding and commercializing its UV LED business. In particular, Seoul Viosys' Violeds technology can be applied to biotechnology equipment and medical diagnosis equipment as well as skin and other medical treatment, including being used as part of the International Space Station (ISS) as well as MOSCLEAN (a mosquito trap). 

"We have developed Violeds technology, not just for profit, but also to assist with critical health and environmental measures," says Yeojin Yoon, VP of the UV Development Center at Seoul Viosys. "With our ability to mass produce these life-saving devices at a low cost, we can supply Violeds technology and its products to people around the world," he adds. "We have invested tremendously to achieve this technology. We will strongly enforce our patents against infringers that do not respect our intellectual property, and we will initiate additional patent infringement lawsuit against such infringers within the next quarter of this year."

See related items:

SETi acquires commercial operations of fellow UV LED firm Nitek

Seoul Viosys and SETi to jointly commercialise Violeds UV LED sterilization technology

Seoul Viosys' acquisition of controlling stake in SETi approved by US DoD

Tags: UV LEDs Seoul Optodevice Sensor Electronic Technology

Visit: www.seoulviosys.com