News Room

Apr. 10, 2019

Court ruling finds Nichia’s YAG patent infringed by HTC in Germany

On March 26, 2019, a ruling of the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany, (docket number 4a O 72/17) found that white LED used as flashlights in certain smartphones manufactured by HTC Corporation (“HTC“) infringed Nichia’s YAG patent EP 0 936 682 (DE 697 02 929). The decision was also rendered against HTC’s affiliates HTC Europe Co. Ltd. and HTC Germany GmbH as well as against Digital River Ireland Ltd., that operates HTC’s European web shop. Nichia is awarded damages as compensation for the patent infringement for the period from June 30, 2007 until expiration of the patent on July 29, 2017. The decision is not final and can be appealed by the defendants.

The HTC’s smartphones for which the Court found that they contained infringing LED were the models HTC U Ultra, HTC U Play, HTC Desire 626 G, HTC One A9s, and HTC One M9.

Nichia’s white LED technologies were the groundbreaking invention in the area of LED.

Nichia seeks to protect its patents and other intellectual property rights and takes actions against alleged infringers in any country where appropriate and necessary.

  Chinese version (traditional)
  German version