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31 October 2007

 

Osram agrees laser and LED patent exchange with Toyoda Gosei; wins patent dispute against Kingbright

Osram GmbH of Munich, Germany and Toyoda Gosei Ltd of Aichi, Japan have signed an agreement for the mutual use of patents for certain LED and laser technologies.

Cooperation relates to indium gallium nitride (InGaN) technologies concerning white, blue and green LEDs and lasers. From Osram’s side, this mainly involves basic technologies for the industrial production of LEDs and lasers, and patents for white LEDs. Toyoda Gosei, which claims development of the world’s first blue LED in 1991, possesses patents relating to blue LEDs.

The aim of the agreement is to make it easier for both firms to develop, manufacture and market new products – and in particular to speed improvements in the luminous intensity of LEDs – without fear of unintentional patent violations..

“The agreement with Toyoda Gosei is a prime example of respectful and responsible dealings with the intellectual property of other companies – with benefits for both the market and customers,” says Dr Rüdiger Müller, CEO of Osram’s LED-manufacturing subsidiary Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH . The cooperation with Toyoda Gosei will help to make LED technology more available and enable the infant market for LED products to develop in a spirit of fair competition, he adds.

Osram has previously entered into many license agreements with other companies for the use of its patents and for the exchange of patents, but adds that it will pursue any infringements of its patent rights.

*Osram wins patent dispute against Kingbright

The District Court of Düsseldorf has upheld almost all the claims of Osram Opto Semiconductors in a patent dispute filed in May 2006 against Taiwanese LED maker Kingbright Electronic Co, Taipei, Ltd. The court ruled that Kingbright had infringed basic patent and utility model rights of Osram Opto Semiconductors relating to the production of white LEDs that convert blue light into white light with the aid of a phosphor. Kingbright can therefore no longer sell the corresponding LED products in Germany and must also destroy the stock currently in the country.

The court reserved its decision on a patent for LED packaging technology. Kingbright has filed an appeal against the initial judgment.

“Today’s judgment supports Osram Opto Semiconductors in its consistent efforts to protect its intellectual property - throughout the world,” says Müller. Osram also recently filed a lawsuit against Kingbright for infringement of a white LED patent in China.

See related items:

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Epistar sues Lumileds for breach of settlement agreement

Nichia expands patent cross-license with Cree; files white LED patent lawsuit against Seoul in Korea

Seoul signs LED patent cross-license agreement with Osram; Nichia lawsuit dismissed in US

AOT loses Taiwan patent invalidation action against Seoul Semiconductor

Osram settles patent dispute as Citizen licenses white LED IP

Osram and Philips cross-license inorganic and organic LED patents

Search: Osram InGaN LEDs

Visit: www.osram-os.com

Visit: www.toyoda-gosei.com

Visit: www.kingbright.com