Samsung Display has amended legal action against its Chinese competitor BOE. Samsung alleging that BOE infringed upon its patents for OLED screens, particularly those used in Apple’s iPhone 12. The lawsuit (civil action no. 2:23-CV-00309-JRG-RSP) was lodged with the Texas Eastern District Court.
| Patent Number | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7,414,599 | Organic Light Emitting Device Pixel Circuit and Driving Method | Relates to a pixel circuit for achieving high gradation in an OLED to enhance image quality. |
| 9,330,593 | Stage Circuit and Organic Light Emitting Display | Discloses staging circuits for applying scanning signals to an OLED display. |
| 9,818,803 | Pixel Arrangement Structure for OLED Display Device | Introduces novel pixel arrangement structures for an OLED display, involving specific patterns, layouts, surface areas, lengths, and shapes of pixels. |
| 10,854,683 | Pixel Arrangement Structure for OLED Display Device | A continuation of the ‘803 Patent, presenting additional pixel arrangement structures for an OLED display, with similar features as described in the original patent. |
| 11,594,578 | Pixel Arrangement Structure for OLED Display Device | A continuation of the ‘683 Patent, further elaborating on pixel arrangement structures for an OLED display, with similar characteristics and features described in the preceding patents. |
This litigation stems from Samsung discovering that OLED panels manufactured by Chinese companies, including BOE, were being used as replacements for original Samsung screens in iPhone 12 devices at independent repair shops in the US.
Samsung asserts that the Chinese replacement screens incorporate four of its patented OLED technologies. These patented technologies, including Samsung’s proprietary Diamond Pixel technology, form the basis of Samsung’s case against BOE.
Prior to the lawsuit, Samsung had filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) in December 2022, pointing out that certain US parts wholesalers were using display parts and panels that infringed on Samsung’s patented technologies. Samsung requested that these companies, including MobileSentrix, Injured Gadget, and DFW Cellphones & Parts, be prevented from importing such infringing parts and panels into the US.
BOE has responded to Samsung’s legal actions with a counterclaim. BOE alleges that Samsung and its Chinese subsidiary have used BOE’s own technologies without permission.
