Rohm Launches Lawsuit Against Nichia Over Blue LED Patent
Monday, July 2, 2001
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Rohm Co. (6963) on Monday filed at the Kyoto District Court a lawsuit against Nichia Corp., claiming that the firm is infringing upon its patent for blue light-emitting diode (LED) technology, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun learned Monday.
The company wants the court to order Nichia to stop manufacturing and selling blue LEDs.
Late last year in the U.S., Kyoto-based LSI maker Rohm filed a similar lawsuit against Nichia after its request for cross-licensing each other's blue LED technology was turned down by Nichia.
Earlier, it had sounded out Nichia, which is said to have more than 100 patents related to blue LED technology, about a cross-licensing agreement.
Rohm argues that Nichia has violated its patent on a technology to reduce power consumption of blue LEDs by around 10%, compared with the existing technique.
Last year, the company obtained patents in Japan and the U.S. for the technology, which can reduce voltage while maintaining emitting efficiency.
It is investing some 5 billion yen to build an R&D and manufacturing building for blue LEDs, with plans to roll out its new diode this summer.
However, Rohm appears poised to continue discussions with Nichia to settle the dispute lodged in both Japan and the U.S., since it hopes to prepare to meet global demand for blue LEDs as soon as possible after the legal wrangling sorts out the firms' respective rights.
Meanwhile, a Nichia spokesperson said, "We will consider how to deal with the issue after examining Rohm's petition."
The chemicals company is also in legal disputes with Toyoda Gosei Co. (7282) over blue LED patents.
(The Nihon Keizai Shimbun Tuesday morning edition) |
