On December 4, Seoul Semiconductor Corp. filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) alleging that Nichia Corporation engaged in unfair trade practices through the importation and sales of gallium nitride (GaN)-based laser diode products that infringe Seoul Semiconductor's US patent no. 5,321,713 (the '713 patent).

Seoul Semiconductor has invested more than $10 million in research and development of laser diode and LED related technologies by U.S. based universities and companies.

Due to its investments, Seoul Semiconductor has obtained rights to numerous laser diode and LED related patents. These patents, including the '713 patent, complement Seoul's already robust patent portfolio, which includes over 1,000 patents.

Seoul Semiconductor's US patent no. 5,075,742 ( the '742 patent) is also asserted in another pending lawsuit against Nichia Corporation for patent infringement through its sale of LEDs.

That case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and was filed on November 6, 2007. The '742 patent covers technologies related to white, blue, green and UV LEDs and laser diodes.

Seoul Semiconductor anticipates that the ITC's investigation of Nichia Corporation will commence in January 2008 and be tried in the fall of 2008.

Editor's note

US patent no. 5,321,713 entitled "Aluminum gallium nitride laser" was filed in June 1992 and granted in June 1994.

US patent no. 5,075,742 entitled "Semiconductor structure for optoelectronic components with inclusions" was filed in January 1991 and granted in December 1991.