Samsung Display sues BOE over iPhone 12 panel patents

Samsung Display Co. has stepped up its fight against BOE Technology over display panels, taking its first legal action against the Chinese rival over alleged patent infringement for OLED screens of Apple’s iPhone 12.

The South Korean display maker on June 26 lodged a lawsuit against BOE with the Texas Eastern District Court, according to industry sources on Friday. It was the first time Samsung took direct aim at the Chinese archrival in their patent row.

Their patent dispute began when Samsung was informed that copycat OLED panels produced by Chinese companies were being used as replacements for original Samsung OLED screens for iPhone 12 at some US smartphone repair shops.

iPhone 12 users were allowed to choose between the copycat Chinese screens or Samsung’s at these independent repair centers. Samsung confirmed the Chinese replacement copied its four patented OLED technologies.

Before bringing the case to court, Samsung in December 2022 filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against US parts wholesalers over their use of display parts and panels. BOE was pointed out as the manufacturer in the complaint.

Samsung argued the panels and parts were based entirely on its sophisticated OLED patents, including one on its Diamond Pixel technology.

It requested the US tribunal ban 17 US smartphone parts wholesalers, including MobileSentrix, Injured Gadget and DFW Cellphones & Parts, from importing such parts and panels that use its patented technology into the US.

BOE’S COUNTERCLAIM

In a counterclaim, BOEs filed patent infringement lawsuits last month against Samsung Display, its Chinese corporation and Samsung Electronics Co.'s operation in China with a Chongqing court. For its part, BOE argued the South Korean companies used its technology without permission.

Their intensifying legal dispute highlights China’s efforts to eat away at Samsung’s dominance in the OLED panel market. In the LCD market, Samsung was overtaken by BOE as the world’s No. 1 player in 2021, giving up its 17-year-long supremacy.

Shutting and slimming down the LCD business, South Korean display makers have switched to OLED panels, which enable the production of lightweight, thin and flexible display products because they do not require backlighting.

According to the Korea Display Industry Association, South Korea commands 81.3% of the global OLED market, trailed by China with a 17.9% share.

Write to Ik-Hwan Kim at lovepen@hankyung.com
Yeonhee Kim edited this article