News: LEDs
20 August 2020
Nitride files amended complaint in US against Digi-Key
Japan’s Nitride Semiconductors Co Ltd (which was spun off from Tokushima University in 2000 and claims to have developed the first highly efficient ultraviolet light-emitting diode) says that it has filed an amended complaint against global electrical components distributor Digi-Key Corp in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota, alleging that UV LED products supplied by various LED companies – such as Lite-On Semiconductor, Luminus Devices, and Vishay Intertechnology – are infringing its UV LED patent.
Nitride first filed a patent infringement suit against Digi-Key in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota in September 2017.
With professor Shiro Sakai at Tokushima University, Nitride Semiconductors developed highly efficient UV-LEDs as early as 2000. It has continued to manufacture and sell UV-LEDs, and says that it has invested in R&D to develop and enhance its UV-LED technology.
To protect its UV LED patented technology, Nitride initiated its patent enforcement campaign starting in 2017. Subsequently, earlier this year a judgment was issued by the US District Court for the Northern District of California against RayVio Corp for infringing Nitride’s UV LED patent, as well as validating patent. The US Patent & Trademark Office has also confirmed the validity of the key claims of Nitride's patent in its final judgment on an Inter Parte Review case filed by RayVio.
Nitride says that, since it considers its intellectual property rights to be vitally important company assets, it will take any action necessary to enforce its patent against infringers in any country and uphold its patents and other intellectual property rights.
Nitride files patent infringement lawsuit against Digi-Key and RayVio in Tokyo
Nitride Semiconductor files UV-LED patent infringement lawsuit in USA against Digi-Key
Nitride Semiconductor files patent infringement lawsuit against Rayvio’s UV-LED products
