Did LG Display Just File a Patent Suit Against Tianma Microelectronics?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- LG Display has filed a lawsuit against Tianma Microelectronics for patent infringement.
- The lawsuit targets seven patents related to touch integration technology.
- This marks LG Display's first legal action against a Chinese company.
- LG Display is investing 700 billion won in OLED production facilities.
- The lawsuit may have significant implications for the tech industry.
Seoul, June 16 (NationPress) LG Display, a prominent name in the display panel manufacturing industry, has initiated a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States against Tianma Microelectronics, a Chinese company, to safeguard its intellectual property rights, as reported by industry insiders on Monday.
The South Korean firm filed the lawsuit on Friday (U.S. time) with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, accusing the Chinese entity of violating seven patents, according to Yonhap news agency.
The infringements claimed include technology related to touch integration for mobile panels.
The lawsuit asserts that a number of Tianma’s products, such as mobile liquid-crystal display (LCD) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels, infringe on multiple patents owned by LG Display.
This action marks LG Display’s first legal confrontation with a Chinese firm over alleged patent violations.
“Patent infringement signifies the unauthorized utilization of the time, capital, and expertise dedicated to developing proprietary technologies,” stated an official from LG Display. “We plan to take decisive legal steps in response.”
Earlier this month, LG Display announced an investment of 700 billion won ($515 million) to bolster its domestic OLED production facilities.
In September, LG Display divested its entire 80 percent share in its large-size display panel and module plant located in Guangzhou, China, to China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) for 2.25 trillion won.
CSOT, a subsidiary of the Chinese electronics giant TCL Group, ranks among the leading suppliers of television display panels. “The company is contemplating expanding its existing OLED plant in Paju, located 30 kilometers northwest of Seoul, or establishing a new facility in the city,” a company spokesperson stated during a phone call.
Alongside the planned investment in OLED production, LG Display intends to allocate a portion of the proceeds to research and development, as well as operational costs, to boost its competitiveness in the OLED market.
To expedite the investment project, the company aims to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Paju City and Gyeonggi Province next month.