LED patent dispute Cold Thinking: patent licensing cooperation has become a trend

As an emerging technology intensive industry global blitz, LED industry patent dispute in the industry has not stopped. As everyone knows, the key technology of LED global patent has been Europe and the United States and Japan's PHILPS Lumileds, OSRAM, TOYOTA, Nichia and Cree synthesis in 5 and was authorized by mutual manufacturers firmly monopoly. As long as there are companies into the 5 major manufacturers of patent sites, regardless of size will lead to the most sensitive patent dispute. International patent litigation is a corporate resource mobilization confrontation, so there are few companies in the world to fight against the 5 major manufacturers, and ultimately almost to the end of the settlement compensation.

However, before the date of Samsung Electronics (Samsung ELectronics) poured into the LED lighting market, Samsung to grab the city one of the world's leading lighting manufacturer OSRAM (Osram) is the first to open the first shot, launched a global patent lawsuit, accused Samsung and LG (LG) suspected of infringing the blue light into white light and LED the package of patent infringement; Samsung and OSRAM anti infringement, not resigned to playing second fiddle, global LED patent litigation battle smoke again since four, a lighting of the forces of the old battle is about to enter the superheating.

Patent cooperation has gradually become the trend

For large, patent litigation is more means and strategies for a business competition. For example, in 2006, Nichia accused Seoul of white LED patent infringement semiconductor Nichia fire, though fierce, Seoul semiconductor also immediately back to sue, the patent litigation in the us to cross Eurasia, but 2009 has a full reconciliation of cross licensing agreement.

And was accused of violating the Lumileds crystal electric four yuan LED patent litigation ridden for 4 years, finally consider the patent is about to expire, Lumileds decided to join forces and, while EPISTAR also took the opportunity to sign other red LED authorized patents, and strengthen its product patent layout. Not long ago, Rui Xuan technology investment brand VIZIO and LGElectronics LCD TV patent infringement lawsuit officially ended. The two sides have signed a settlement and patent licensing agreement. Although the company did not cross licensing agreement details, but Yinrui Xuan and LG already have multi strategy cooperation relationship, reconciliation between the two parties is expected in the market.

In international patent dispute in LED industry, from zero sum games in the past, Out of blows friendship grows into a cooperation mode.

Compared to the usual tradition of "you win my negative action results, each other authorized LED has become represent the general trend of international patent patent dispute, through mutual licensing" hold, mutual exchange of needed products in the increasingly fierce, the competition in the international market through the "LED alliance" to enhance their strength become more and more manufacturers choose LED.

So go back to the OSRAM and Samsung patent dispute, may be bold prediction, after a fierce battle after a period of time, Samsung may as many enterprises the same, successfully to fight for peace, and achieve breakthrough patent authorization.

Patent pool: domestic LED enterprises have to ""

If said international manufacturers for patent cooperation in order to expand the strength, increase efforts to combat market risks, so for the domestic LED industry is the core technology of the edge of the small and medium-sized enterprises, and patent cooperation between each other more out of a resistance to international companies patent "bullying", as the saying goes "solidarity", the domestic LED patent cooperation between enterprises more international companies set up hard to break the barriers of professional.

As market competition intensifies, a patent dispute has become a normal market behavior, high-tech enterprises of various patent disputes are booming Chinese produce heavy blow.

LED technology in China started late in China in recent years developed very rapidly, the patent dispute is increasing, while domestic enterprises are often in a relatively passive situation. In fact, the face of patent disputes is not terrible, terrible is in a patent dispute in a passive position beaten helpless.

In August 30th, announced the first domestic LED patent technology industry alliance was established in Shenzhen, with hundreds of enterprises to participate in the Shenzhen LED, and boldly adopt "patent pool", the number of the patent together, and cross licensing, license. The way to hold together to promote LED technology research and development and patent applications, to avoid the adverse impact of patent barriers on the industry. This marks the break LED patent barriers on the road, China's enterprises have taken a big step. As the CEO of high tech online Zhang Xiaofei said: patent alliance can promote the enthusiasm of enterprise research and development, reduce costs, when a patent lawsuit, but also able to hold together to deal with. ".

Recognize domestic LED enterprise patent level the gap with international companies

But China LED enterprises need to recognize the reality is that, compared to the 20 United States, Japan and Europe chip enterprises to apply for more than 300 thousand patents, accounting for 85%-90% of the share, China 62 chip companies applied for 30 thousand patents, less than 10% of the huge gap between domestic enterprises, authorized "patent pool" and international companies patent, is essentially the difference, the gap between the two can be said cannot be mention in the same breath. In addition, more grim reality is that although the domestic LED industry has a certain scale, and has a number of patents, but due to upstream Patent Black news technology by the international companies to occupy the absolute advantage, so the development of domestic LED enterprises limited.