AsiaNet 86558

DUBLIN, November 11, 2020, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Solas OLED Ltd, a leading Dublin, Ireland-based licensor of technology focused

on the OLED market, announced today that it has prevailed in its patent

infringement action in Germany against LG Display Co., LG Display Germany GmbH,

LG Electronics Inc., LG Electronics Deutschland GmbH, and Sony Europe B.V. In a

detailed, 43 page decision issued on November 6, 2020, the Mannheim District

Court in Germany (court ref. 7 O 37/19) held that the defendants had infringed

Solas' German patent DE 102 54 511 B4 concerning a control circuit for light

emitting diodes. The technology at issue is used in screens in certain LG and

Sony OLED televisions.

Ciaran O'Gara, Managing Director of Solas, commented: "We are pleased with the

decision, in particular the Court's acknowledgement that the efforts of patent

licensing companies such as ours, to enforce an injunction in order to

encourage infringers to take a license, is an inherent part of the patent

system and part of the applicable legal and economic order. It is through this

system that innovators are rewarded and encouraged to continue to innovate."  

As a result of the decision, which can be appealed, and subject to Solas

posting a security as indicated by the Court, among other obligations the

defendants will have to cease and desist from marketing infringing products in

Germany; they will have to recall from commercial customers all infringing

products; and must render to Solas a detailed accounting necessary to establish

damages owed by the defendants for sales of infringing products in Germany

dating back to April, 2009.

Of particulate note, the Mannheim District Court stated "[i]n the opinion of

the Chamber, the fact that a patent enforcement entity seeks to enforce a cease

and desist claim in order to encourage infringers to take out a license is

therefore not per se such an exceptional case [justifying to deny an

injunction], but immanent to the patent system as part of the applicable legal

and economic order (see already Chamber, judgment of 27.02.2009 - 7 O 94/08,

BeckRS 2009, 08150). The fact that the plaintiff is not active in the market as

a manufacturer, but rather exploits the research and development work carried

out by the University of Stuttgart does not constitute an illegitimate business

purpose. Rather, the plaintiff thereby indirectly financially supports the

university's research and development activities in favor of the commercial

technology market."

About Solas OLED

Solas OLED Ltd is an Irish OLED technology licensing company based in Dublin.

Established in 2016, Solas has assembled one of the world's largest, most

important and comprehensive intellectual property portfolios in the OLED space.

From the smallest OLED watch to the largest OLED TV, Solas' intellectual

property is fundamental to the design, circuitry and manufacturing of OLED

displays.

Solas continues to develop, seek, evaluate and acquire patents in the OLED

space, please visit www.solasoled.com

SOURCE: Solas OLED Ltd