Nichia files LED design patent action against Everlight

Japanese LED manufacturer Nichia says that it has filed a complaint against Everlight Electronic Co., Ltd., a Taiwanese LED manufacturer, for alleged design patent infringement.

In the complaint, filed in Taiwan Banciao District Court, Nichia seeks damages for the alleged infringement.

The complaint alleges infringement by two products from Everlight, which are part no. 99-215UWC/TR8 and part no. 99-115UWC/XXX/TR8.

Nichia has employed a "Taiwanese expert" to prepare design patent infringement assessment reports which can be viewed as follows:

• Assessment report for part no. 99-215UWC/TR8

• Assessment report for part no. 99-115UWC/XXX/TR8

The complaint alleges infringement of a Nichia design patent (Taiwanese registration No. 089,036) that concerns SMD-type LEDs. The LED corresponding to this design patent is used as the backlight of the liquid crystal display of cellular phones and so on. Nichia holds design patents for this SMD-type LED in other countries as well as in Taiwan.

Nichia filed a similar complaint against Seoul Semiconductor in January 2006 (see Nichia asserts design patents against Seoul Semiconductor).