Seoul Semiconductor to the world 29 LED companies issued a patent infringement warning, of which more than half of Chinese enterprises – vigilance! LED field or will start a patent war.
LED field of patent war or will start! (Seoul Semiconductor) since September 2016, to lighting, television and other manufacturers for the object, issued against 29 companies worldwide patent infringement warning. The 29 companies, including Skyworth and other 15 Chinese mainland enterprises, AOT Wing Chong (hereinafter referred to Rongchuang) and other four Chinese enterprises in Taiwan and Feit and many other European and American companies. lqh6ppn101m43l
This news came out, immediately sparked heated debate in the semiconductor industry. Some experts believe that the Seoul Semiconductor for many Chinese enterprises LED infringement warning, on the one hand shows that China’s semiconductor manufacturing and consumer market development prospects, Seoul Semiconductor hopes to patent litigation, access to substantial patent licensing fees; the other hand, in recent years China LED technology research and development, patent protection more attention, Seoul Semiconductor intends to curb competitors through patent litigation, to seize market share.
Behind the patent warning
It is understood that Seoul Semiconductor is a professional semiconductor manufacturer in South Korea, the world’s top five LED industry, currently has more than 10,000 related patents in the semiconductor field, its own research and development of non-encapsulated LED, multi-structure chip, DC AC can drive Acrich, UV sterilization and other four innovative technologies, leading the global LED field development. Since winning the patent litigation against China Taiwan in 2003, Seoul Semiconductor has launched more than 50 patents in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea and other countries. The global 29 lighting, television companies issued a patent infringement warning, what is intended? m83513/03-d03n
LED, also known as light-emitting diode, is a solid-state semiconductor devices that can directly convert electricity into light. Semiconductor Lighting Patent Alliance intellectual property consultant Sun Yinsheng introduction, LED is a semiconductor technology, a wide band gap of a branch of the semiconductor field. LED technology applications in a wide range, in addition to the well-known lighting and television technology, can also be used in visible light communications, navigation and positioning, modern agriculture, medical sterilization and other fields. LED as a visible light technology, there is no electromagnetic pollution, can provide residential and underground parking, the accuracy of the Internet of Things positioning; through the all-weather simulation of solar spectrum, can effectively promote plant growth; the same time, in the treatment of vitiligo, freckle psoriasis, etc. Significant effect.
For Seoul Semiconductor issued a patent litigation warning intent, Huaxing Photoelectric Technology Co., Ltd. Intellectual Property Department Gu Yubo analysis, the proposed patent infringement warning is to achieve corporate patent strategy to obtain a patent value of a means. Seoul Semiconductor this time through the issue of infringement litigation warning, on the one hand hoping to restrict competitors to enter the LED market, in order to obtain high monopoly interests; the other hand, want to coerce the defendant to sign a patent license agreement to collect royalties or purchase patents assets. If Seoul Semiconductor filed a patent infringement lawsuit and won the case, even if the parties can not reach a settlement agreement, may also be awarded the court judgment of patent infringement.
Gu Yubo that in recent years, the global semiconductor industry slowdown, only the Chinese semiconductor industry to maintain rapid growth. China is not only the world’s largest electronics manufacturing base, but also has become the world’s major semiconductor consumer market, especially in the cloud computing, artificial intelligence, intelligent driving and other new technologies gradually rising background, a large increase in data processing requirements, Will bring the rapid growth of semiconductor consumer demand. Gu Yubo analysis pointed out that the pattern of global LED technology development, the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea more advanced technology, Chinese enterprises to enter the LED market time is short, the basic patent is relatively weak, the lack of overall layout than international semiconductor giants there is a certain gap. Seoul Semiconductor for the Chinese enterprises to patent infringement warning, it is to seize the Chinese enterprises of this short board, seeking to the most economical and efficient strategy to achieve its patent value.
Strategies for responding to litigation
It is understood that Seoul Semiconductor for the global 29 LED companies issued a patent infringement warning, of which 15 are Chinese enterprises, including the well-known domestic TV manufacturers Skyworth. Skyworth contact the relevant departments, would like to conduct an interview on the relevant issues, but did not get each other back.
In order to know more about the layout of the patent in the world, a patent examiner at the Tianjin Patent Examination Center of the State Intellectual Property Office made a patent search through the Derwent patent database. The search found that, as of the end of November 2016, in the field of LED, Seoul Semiconductor global applications in 100 or so, the core technology is mainly concentrated in the high color rendering technology, phosphor combination technology, multi-chip mount technology, LED epitaxial layer Growth and chip manufacturing technology, LED bulb technology and AcrichMJT technology. In the patent infringement warning object, Skyworth in the field of LED global application of 140 or so, the core technology focused on digital display technology, BSV LCD technology, chip integration technology and other fields. The examiner’s analysis, although Skyworth patent applications slightly higher than Seoul Semiconductor, but Seoul Semiconductor’s patent layout to carry out earlier, the core technology is relatively more mature.
“In my opinion, the Seoul Semiconductor for Skyworth and other enterprises filed a copyright infringement warning, intended to prompt Skyworth, etc. to buy their patents, to reach a patent license agreement.” Sun Yinsheng said infringement warning does not necessarily lead to litigation, whether to initiate litigation, Where litigation also depends on the further development of the situation, but domestic enterprises should also be highly vigilant. If litigation is initiated, domestic firms should be prepared to respond, for example, to determine whether their products constitute patent infringement. If there is no infringement, may request the court to confirm non-infringement; if the infringement, Chinese enterprises may face is restricted to enter the country market, or forced to sign a patent license agreement. Therefore, Chinese enterprises should receive a warning letter, should actively respond.
Gu Yubo also suggested that Chinese enterprises in the event of patent litigation, should take timely measures to respond to the team together to fight against patent litigation risk, which will help reduce the cost of patent litigation, but also can improve the efficiency of patent litigation, patent licensing negotiations to enhance In the right to speak.
