27 April 2015

Nichia's white LED patents ruled invalid in Germany and USA following Everlight lawsuits

Taiwanese LED maker Everlight Electronics Co Ltd says that, on 22 April, the jury before the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan found that all asserted claims of the white LED patents of Japan's Nichia Corp are invalid in Germany and the USA for obviousness and/or lack of enablement.

In April 2012, Everlight filed for declaratory judgment of invalidity and non-infringement of Nichia's US patents related to white LEDs. The US patents 5998925 and 7531960 concern yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) phosphor being used with a blue LED chip to emit white light, and its phosphor concentration.

In March 2012, Everlight also filed for invalidation trial against Nichia's corresponding white LED patent in Germany, specifically patent DE69702929 (EP0936682). The German Patent Court in September 2014 also declared all the claims of the patent invalid, and that Nichia has to bear the litigation fee.

Everlight says that it respects intellectual property and will continue to defend the rights and benefits of its customers and shareholders.

See related items:

Nichia adds to US patent infringement lawsuit against Everlight

Nichia sues Germany-based Everlight subsidiary Zenaro and distributor over YAG patents

Nichia files patent infringement lawsuit against Everlight in Germany

Everlight files patent infringement lawsuit against Nichia in USA

Nichia files patent lawsuit against Everlight's white LED products

Tags: Everlight Nichia LEDs

Visit: www.everlight.com

Visit: www.nichia.com