Chinese panel maker BOE Technology Group has filed its second OLED patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Display in two months, escalating an already tense legal battle.
The complaint, filed in a U.S. court, alleges Samsung used BOE’s proprietary OLED design technology without authorization. Analysts warn the dispute could affect Samsung’s ability to supply OLED panels for Apple’s next-generation iPhones.
“Apple relies heavily on Samsung for OLED supply. If court injunctions or licensing issues arise, it could delay iPhone production,” said Digitimes in its coverage of the case.
Samsung Display has yet to issue an official response. Meanwhile, Apple is said to be evaluating contingency plans, including diversifying suppliers to reduce legal risk.
Earlier this month, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued a preliminary ruling finding that BOE and seven subsidiaries misappropriated Samsung Display’s OLED trade secrets under Section 337 of the Tariff Act. The ITC recommended a limited exclusion order to block imports of BOE OLED panels into the U.S., along with a cease-and-desist order to halt sales of existing inventory. A final decision is expected in November 2025, followed by a 60-day review period by the U.S. President. Historically, preliminary ITC rulings are seldom overturned, making this a significant threat to BOE’s presence in the U.S. market.
BOE currently supplies approximately 20% of the OLED panels used in Apple’s iPhone 16 series, with capacity to produce up to 100 million panels annually from its Sichuan (B11) facility. Apple has stated it is not a party to the ITC case and that the preliminary ruling “has no impact on any Apple products.” Still, any U.S. ban on BOE components would likely force Apple to shift its OLED orders to Samsung Display and LG Display, potentially increasing costs and impacting production schedules
Undeterred, BOE filed a second patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Display on July 15, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The complaint asserts infringement of four OLED-related patents, covering encapsulation films, pixel-driving circuits, display circuitry, and under-display camera technology as used in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold5, Fold6, and S25 Ultra devices. BOE is seeking triple damages for willful infringement and an import and sales ban in the U.S.; this follows an earlier suit filed in May 2025 in the same court.
Samsung is also fighting back. Since 2023, Samsung Display has filed three patent infringement lawsuits against BOE and brought the trade-secret case to the ITC in October 2023. In March 2025, the ITC ruled that BOE had infringed three Samsung patents but did not yet issue import bans. Samsung has also successfully invalidated several BOE patents through the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, reinforcing its legal position.
If BOE’s trade-secret violation is upheld, its capacity to supply OLED panels to the U.S. market—including to Apple—would be severely restricted, reinforcing Samsung’s dominance in OLED. However, BOE’s multiple patent suits raise the risk of restrictions on Samsung’s high-end device sales in the U.S. In essence, BOE is wagering that challenging Samsung aggressively may protect its global ambitions even as its American business faces jeopardy.
The stakes in this cross-jurisdictional legal conflict are high, not just in patent law, but in supply-chain control. A U.S. ban on BOE OLED panels would consolidate Samsung and LG Display’s hold on Apple’s smartphone supply chain, potentially raising component costs. BOE’s aggressive counter-suits signal a defensive strategy to pressure Samsung in sectors beyond just panels. For the broader OLED market, the outcome could determine whether BOE cedes ground to Korean suppliers in the lucrative Apple corridor, or whether it successfully leverages its patent arsenal to retain influence and shift dispute leverage.
