Samsung Display, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has initiated a lawsuit against China’s BOE Technology, alleging the infringement of five display-related patents used in mobile devices, including Apple’s iPhone 12. The lawsuit was filed in a US court in East Texas, known for its efficiency in handling cases. Samsung Display is seeking damages and an injunction to stop the import and sale of the infringing displays.
Apple has been utilizing OLED displays in its Apple Watch and iPhone models, with the latest being the iPhone 14. Samsung Display currently dominates the OLED market, but BOE has been gaining ground and surpassed LG Display as the second-largest player in the market last year, according to Omdia, a market research firm.
The lawsuit claims that Samsung Display has suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable harm due to the infringement of the patented technology. This lawsuit comes after BOE Technology previously sued Samsung Display, Samsung Display’s Chinese corporation, and Samsung Electronics’ operation in China for patent infringement. Industry experts suggest that BOE’s legal action against Samsung may be an attempt to hinder the Korean company’s growth in China. This countersuit by BOE follows Samsung Display’s complaint to the US International Trade Commission in December 2022, which triggered an investigation into several companies accused of selling OLED screens as replacements for mobile devices.
