Global lighting giants embroiled in patent flap
by The CANADAN PRESS
A Samsung unit is suing a German rival over LED patents amid intensifying disputes among global companies jockeying for supremacy in key consumer technologies.
SEOUL, South Korea—A Samsung unit is raising the ante in a patent dispute with a German rival over energy-saving LED lighting amid intensifying legal disputes among global companies jockeying for supremacy in key consumer technologies.
Samsung LED Co. has asked the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) on Friday to bar products of Osram GmbH and two units from entering the U.S.
Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung LED also filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware alleging infringement of its LED patents, seeking unspecified damages.
Samsung LED is targeting Osram, Osram Opto Semiconductors and Osram Sylvania Inc. in the actions. Munich-based Osram GmbH is a unit of German industrial engineering giant Siemens AG. Osram Sylvania is Osram’s North American operation based in Danvers, Massachusetts.
Last month, Samsung LED sued Osram Korea Co. and two local companies that sell its products in South Korea in retaliation for what is said were suits by Osram at the USITC, in the Delaware court and in Germany.
“Samsung LED intends to vigorously enforce its intellectual property rights, and these lawsuits reflect Samsung LED’s commitment to that enforcement,” the company said in a release.
“Osram is well prepared regarding possible actions by Samsung,” said Stefan Schmidt, Osram’s head of media relations.
Samsung LED is alleging infringement of eight patents covering what it calls “core” LED technologies used in products such as lighting, automobiles, projectors, mobile phone screens and TVs.
Semiconductor-based LEDs, or light emitting diodes, are becoming increasingly popular for their durability and energy-saving capability.
Samsung LED was established in 2009 as a joint venture between Samsung Electronics Co. and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co.
Samsung Electronics is embroiled in multiple complaints and lawsuits with Apple over smartphone and tablet technology. Separately, Samsung and Taiwan’s AU Optronics Corp. have launched legal actions against each other over alleged patent infringement in liquid crystal displays.
Associated Press writer Debby Wu in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
