OSRAM and Everlight sign patent agreement
Staff
Electronics CEL<divOSRAM (Germany) has extended the existing license with Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd (Taiwan), about manufacturing and sales of white and colored LEDs with conversion technology for all applications. These patents are owned by OSRAM. In return, Everlight granted to OSRAM a license to use housing patents of Everlight. This agreement paves the way for a closer cooperation between the two companies.
The licensed conversion technology was developed by the OSRAM subsidiary Opto Semiconductors. It enables the production of white or colored LEDs using blue emitting InGaN (Indium Gallium Nitride) based chips and suitable fluorescent converters. With the agreement signed today, the existing license agreement (September 2003) is extended – especially the right of Everlight to use this OSRAM intellectual property in all areas of application without limitations, including automotive and general lighting. In addition, the parties agreed on a crosslicense that allows OSRAM to use Everlight´s housing patents.
Dr. Rudiger 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, explained, "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."
Pokorny added, "The strength of our LED patents has been confirmed by many court rulings in various jurisdictions. 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, e.g., Rohm, Seoul Semiconductor, Lite-On, Harvatek, Vishay, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, AVAGO, and many more.
