In return, Everlight has granted to Osram a license to use housing patents owned by Everlight. This agreement paves the way for a closer cooperation between the two companies.
The licensed conversion technology, developed by Osram Opto Semiconductors, enables the production of white or coloured LEDs using blue-emitting InGaN (indium gallium nitride)-based chips and suitable fluorescent converters.
The new agreement extends an existing license agreement, signed in September 2003, especially the right for Everlight to use this Osram intellectual property in all areas of application without limitations, including automotive and general lighting. The cross-license allowing Osram to use Everlight´s housing patents is another new addition to the agreement.
According to a press release from Everlight, the two companies also signed an OEM agreement under which Everlight will supply OSRAM with certain LED products as OEM products. This OEM agreement was signed at the same time as the patent license agreement, and is hopefully expected to become an integral part of business alliance between Everlight and OSRAM.
Rüdiger Müller, CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors, said “Over the years, Osram Opto Semiconductors has built up a very strong patent position. It is the foundation of our market success.”
Gerd Pokorny, General Counsel of Osram GmbH, said “Today´s agreement is a perfect example for a productive and fair collaboration. But we will also continue to vigorously enforce our patent rights against companies making unauthorized use of our intellectual property.”
“The strength of our LED patents has been confirmed by many court rulings in various jurisdictions,” continued Pokorny. “Just most recently the High Court of Appeal in Beijing reconfirmed the decision of the Beijing Second Intermediate Court, that LEDs manufactured by the Taiwanese manufacturer Kingbright in China, infringes Osram's conversion patents.”
Osram has signed royalty bearing license agreements with various companies, for example Rohm Semiconductor, Seoul Semiconductor, Lite-On, Harvatek, Vishay, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Avago Technologies and many more.
