Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has reached an agreement with fellow Japan-based LED maker Showa Denko K.K. to allow the companies to use each other’s patents for nitride-based LED chips.
The two companies say they will “continue to develop high-quality, high-brightness LEDs and pursue expansion of the LED market through fair competition.”
Toyoda Gosei and Showa Denko respectively possess wide-ranging patents in the area of optoelectronics. As a result of the conclusion of the cross-license agreement, the two companies say they will be able to “step up their R&D efforts and meet the rapidly growing demand, thereby contributing to the development of the LED industry.”
Toyoda Gosei has patent agreements with a number of leading LED makers including Nichia, Osram, Philips Lumileds and Cree.
Cree settles lawsuit with Honeywell
LED and lighting manufacturer Cree has settled its patent infringement lawsuits with industrial giant Honeywell International.
According to an article in the Triangle Business Journal, Cree and Honeywell entered into an agreement to dismiss the cases – a suit by Honeywell and a countersuit by Cree – in late February. The parties have agreed to drop all claims, counterclaims and defenses in the cases without prejudice.
The case dates back to October 2007, when Honeywell claimed infringement of US Patent no. 6,373,188 B1 - see Honeywell targets Lumileds, Cree with LED patent lawsuit.
Cree later countersued Honeywell, saying Honeywell infringed two patents licensed to Cree and owned by Boston University. The trustees at BU were also a party in that countersuit. A trial had been scheduled for November 2010.
