Signify, an Amsterdam-based firm, informed shareholders that separatist German court in Düsseldorf has issued an injunction that requires the company to recall and destroy certain lighting products that contain elements that violate Seoul Semiconductor patents. The judgement which was delivered on Thursday shows Seoul Semiconductor has got a sweet victory on their prolonged case on infringement of intellectual property.
German Court Orders Recall of Signify Lighting Products Over Patent Infringement
The relief of the court particularly targets products marketed by Conrad Electronic, traders recognized as linked with the sale of the counterfeit goods. The ruling also requires the company to pay a fine of up to €250,000 ($259,925) for the violation of recall order as part of the infringement.
Seoul Semiconductor, one of the world’s largest LED technology providers, said it was pleased with the result. The company assured in a statement that it remains committed to shielding its innovations and supporting fair competition in the lighting sector.
LEDVANCE being one of the world’s largest lighting company which was earlier known as Philips Lighting which is a part of Signify, this ruling may effect their operations in Germany. A specific reaction never came from the company to the court ruling increasing uncertainties surrounding its possible appeal or changes to the product offering.
In the competitive industry especially in the lighting industry, issues related to patents and compliance with patents are inevitable as revealed in the case. The decision also reconfirms legal consequences that companies encounter whenever they do not consider the sanctity of the IP laws across the globe.
Signify Challenges Patent Ruling, Citing Expired Patents in Seoul Semiconductor Case
The Netherlands based Signify which is the world’s largest lighting manufacturing company has disputed a German court judgment that was directing the firm to recall its products. Here the company says that the patents on which the Seoul Semiconductor has based the case are useless since they have been expunged. Leading a shift in focus to explain how the company, formerly owned by Philips but spun off in 2016 as Signify, plans to handle the legal notices appropriately,
Responding to the claims in the case, Signify said in a statement that it has taken legal steps to challenge the validity of the patents at the heart of the issue in a statement to Reuters. However, the company did not give out raw information on details of the legal issues or the time line for the cases.
The Düsseldorf court as earlier noted held that Signify’s products had infringed on the intellectual property owned by Seoul Semiconductor. Consequently, the court pronounced recall and destruction of the affected products as well as fines as penalties for default.
Signify’s location adds a fresh element into the long-standing legal struggle. If, for some reason, the patents are declared expired it could mean reversing the earlier decision, and reverse the recall order and the penalties that come with it.
Such development portrays that patent litigations are rather challenging in such innovative industries as the lighting technologies. This case focuses on the issues that corporations encounter in mobilizing across global jurisdictions with reference to the patent laws of innovation, expiry, and protection.
Seoul Semiconductor Invests Heavily in R&D, Holds Over 18,000 LED Patents
Seoul Semiconductor, so far an eminent South Korean LED technology company, gained recognition and popularity by more forcible global patent protection. It engages multinational corporations in court for infringement of patents so as to protect its brands.
Seoul Semiconductor considers innovation as a key path and therefore invests about 10% of its annual revenues in research and development. This large investment underlines the company’s focus to develop the LED technology and sustain its leadership status in the international marker.
Seoul’s semiconductor has solid industry positioning with its portfolio of more than 18,000 patents regarding the light-emitting diode technology. It has the patents in areas of general lighting, display and even carlinets solutions.
Especially the company has been effectively protecting its patents, which helped it to stand up for itself against significantly larger competitors and to win most of the time. It also successfully shields its inventions, as well as establishing benchmarks for the industry of LED technology.
Seoul semiconductor consequently positioned the company ready to lead developments in LED technologies in the future because of its sustaining investment in research and development and a patent library that covers all the territories.
