Seoul Semiconductor Achieves Major Legal Victory in the European Union, Securing Recall of Infringing Products and Reinforcing Patented Innovation
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ: 046890), a recognized global leader in LED products and technologies, recently announced a significant legal triumph following a ruling from the Local Division Paris of the Unified Patent Court (UPC), a court system that covers 18 European countries. The court issued a judgment affirming that Laser Components SAS, a major distributor of electronic components, had infringed on an essential patent held by Seoul Semiconductor’s affiliate. The ruling included an immediate ban on the sale of the infringing products and ordered their recall and destruction.
This legal victory represents Seoul Semiconductor’s second win at the UPC, following a landmark ruling in October 2024, which prohibited the sale of products infringing Seoul’s core patents in eight European countries. This case marks a notable first in the LED industry and further solidifies Seoul’s leadership in protecting its innovative intellectual property.
Laser Components, a global distributor serving regions such as the U.S., Europe, and Canada, was found to have sold products that violated Seoul Semiconductor’s WICOP technology patents. This cutting-edge No-wire technology is critical for Micro LED applications, making it central to Seoul’s strategic offerings in the lighting, automotive, IT, and consumer electronics sectors. The company’s victory in this case serves as a key moment in protecting the company’s intellectual property and asserting its dominant position in the LED market.
The Significance of WICOP Technology
Seoul Semiconductor’s WICOP (Wire-less Chip-on-Board) technology is revolutionary in the world of optoelectronics, offering significant improvements over traditional LED manufacturing. Conventional LED manufacturing methods face inherent structural limitations due to the need for precise wire connections between positive and negative electrodes. Unlike conventional silicon semiconductors, which are primarily used in memory storage and processing applications, LEDs are made using compound materials like gallium and indium. These materials require alignment of electrodes and connecting wires, which introduces various challenges in achieving high efficiency and durability.
Seoul Semiconductor’s WICOP technology addressed these issues head-on. The company’s No-wire technology was the first to solve the problem of wire connections in LED products. By directly connecting the electrodes without the need for wires, Seoul Semiconductor dramatically improved light emission efficiency and the structural integrity of its LEDs. This innovation allowed Seoul’s products to withstand extreme conditions such as heat and humidity, marking a significant breakthrough in optical semiconductor technology.
The wide-reaching impact of WICOP technology is evident in its adoption across multiple high-performance applications, including Micro LEDs, automotive headlamps, smartphone flashes, and backlighting units. Its compact, robust design has enabled the growth of advanced packaging products and further driven its use in the rapidly expanding Micro LED market. The integration of WICOP into next-generation displays and devices demonstrates the transformative potential of Seoul’s patented technology in the LED sector.
Seoul’s Role in the Global LED Market
Seoul Semiconductor’s leadership in LED technology is further demonstrated by its impressive intellectual property portfolio. With over 18,000 patents worldwide, Seoul holds one of the largest patent collections in the optoelectronics industry. This extensive portfolio includes breakthrough innovations such as the WICOP no-wire LED, the SunLike LED that mimics the natural spectrum of sunlight, the high-voltage Acrich LED, the ultra-bright nPola LED, and the one-chip MicroLED WICOP Pixel. Seoul’s focus on innovative and sustainable technologies has positioned it at the forefront of global LED and Micro LED markets.
According to Omdia’s 2023 report, Seoul Semiconductor ranks first globally in the UV LED and LCD backlight segments, demonstrating its leadership in multiple areas of optoelectronics. Additionally, the company ranks third overall in the global LED industry, behind only industry giants. Seoul’s innovative approach has driven it to the forefront of LED technology, where it continues to lead advancements in efficiency, miniaturization, and product performance.
A Vision of Hope for Innovation and a Better Future
Chung Hoon Lee, the founder and CEO of Seoul Semiconductor, has always emphasized the importance of fair opportunities for innovators. Reflecting on the company’s commitment to intellectual property and innovation, he stated, “There may be unfairness in birth, but opportunities should be fair in life.” He added, “I believe that the patent system provides hope to young innovators and enterprises, fostering innovation and gradually making the world a better place.” This philosophy underpins Seoul Semiconductor’s active efforts to protect its patents and encourage continued progress in the field of optoelectronics.
For over 30 years, Seoul Semiconductor has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge LED technologies, and its success is built on a foundation of intellectual property protection. The company’s investment in research and development has enabled it to continuously push the boundaries of what is possible in the LED industry. The victory in this recent UPC case further reinforces the company’s commitment to safeguarding its innovations and maintaining its leadership position in the global market.
Seoul Semiconductor’s Broader Impact on Global Industries
Seoul Semiconductor’s innovative products have had a transformative effect on various industries, from automotive lighting and consumer electronics to medical devices and industrial applications. One of the company’s flagship technologies, the WICOP LED, has enabled the creation of smaller, more efficient, and more durable lighting solutions for automotive headlamps, smartphone flashes, and backlighting systems. These applications benefit from the high performance and reliability that WICOP technology provides, making it an essential component in the next generation of advanced lighting systems.
In addition to lighting applications, Seoul’s technologies are driving advancements in Micro LED displays. These displays are poised to revolutionize the consumer electronics market, offering higher resolution, brighter images, and more energy-efficient solutions than traditional LED displays. The integration of WICOP technology into Micro LED applications has enabled the development of ultra-compact, high-performance displays that are set to reshape industries ranging from entertainment and media to healthcare and education.
Furthermore, Seoul Semiconductor has made significant strides in the UV LED market, with its Violeds sterilization technology playing a crucial role in the global effort to combat infectious diseases. By leveraging UV LEDs for disinfection and sterilization applications, Seoul Semiconductor has demonstrated the versatility and potential of its technologies to address pressing global challenges.
Seoul Semiconductor’s Commitment to Intellectual Property Protection
The company’s commitment to intellectual property protection has been a cornerstone of its success. Over the past two decades, Seoul Semiconductor has won over 100 patent litigation cases across eight countries, further cementing its reputation as a leading innovator in the optoelectronics sector. Seoul’s aggressive approach to patent protection ensures that its cutting-edge technologies remain safeguarded against infringement, enabling the company to continue developing breakthrough products for the global market.
The company’s focus on protecting its intellectual property extends beyond the courtroom. Seoul Semiconductor actively collaborates with other industry leaders, academic institutions, and governmental organizations to promote the growth of the optoelectronics industry and foster a culture of innovation. By contributing to the development of industry standards and best practices, Seoul helps ensure that the technologies of the future remain accessible, reliable, and sustainable.
About Seoul Semiconductor
Seoul Semiconductor is the world’s third-largest global optoelectronics company, specializing in LED technology for over three decades. With a vision of “Making the world clean, healthy, and beautiful through light,” Seoul Semiconductor is leading a new paradigm of light across various industries, including lighting, automotive, IT, and consumer electronics. The company’s subsidiary, Seoul Viosys, focuses on emerging technologies such as MicroLED, UV, sensors, and datacomm.
Some of the groundbreaking technologies developed by Seoul Semiconductor include the world’s first no-wire LED technology WICOP, the SunLike LED which replicates natural sunlight spectrum, the high-voltage LED Acrich, the ultra-bright nPola LED (10 times brighter than conventional LEDs), the RGB one-chip MicroLED WICOP Pixel, and UV sterilization technology Violeds.
Seoul Semiconductor holds an impressive portfolio of over 18,000 patents, and in the last 20 years, the company has won over 100 cases in patent litigation across eight countries. Believing that the patent system provides hope for young people and serves as a foundation for building a better world, the company is actively engaged in intellectual property protection. For more details, visit our official website (www.seoulsemicon.com or www.seoulviosys.com) and our social media channels (LinkedIn).
This recent legal victory against Laser Components serves as a testament to Seoul Semiconductor’s unwavering commitment to protecting its intellectual property and continuing to lead the global optoelectronics industry. As the company looks to the future, it remains focused on innovation, growth, and the ongoing development of advanced LED technologies that will shape the world for generations to come.
