Nichia hits Seoul with further patent lawsuit

Sept. 17, 2007
Nichia has filed yet another lawsuit against Seoul Semiconductor Co. Ltd, this time in Korea, over white LEDs.
Japanese LED maker Nichia Corporation has filed a lawsuit in the Seoul Central District Court, Korea against Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. for alleged infringement of an LED-related patent. Seoul Semiconductor is s rival LED maker based in Korea.

The lawsuit alleges that Seoul Semiconductor's top-view type white LED products (part no. TWH104-HS) infringe Nichia's Korean patent no. 406201.

Nichia seeks damages for past infringement as well as an injunction against any further infringing activity.

A lawsuit filed by Nichia against Seoul Semiconductor in the United States, based on Nichia's design patents for side-view type white LEDs, is currently pending (see LED patent case between Nichia and Seoul moves to trial).

Also, there is another pending lawsuit between the companies in Japan, with Nichia seeking damages and an injunction against Seoul Semiconductor and its distributor, Kyoei Sangyo. This case relates to Nichia's patents for lighting LEDs.