Seoul Semiconductor Sues Amazon in European Unified Patent Court Over Patent Infringement

Seoul Semiconductor Sues Amazon in European Unified Patent Court Over Patent Infringement

Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (SSC), a renowned global leader in LED products and technology, has taken legal action against Amazon (Amazon Services Europe), the world’s largest distribution company. SSC filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the newly established European Unified Patent Court, seeking an injunction to halt the sale of infringing LED products.

Over the past five years, SSC and its affiliates have secured 15 permanent injunctions for patent infringement against various manufacturers and distributors. These legal victories spanned courts in the United States, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. However, pursuing lawsuits individually across different countries proved inefficient in enforcing patents against infringing products.

The European Unified Patent Court, operational since June 2023, wields comprehensive jurisdiction over European patent litigation. Notably, its injunction and damages orders can simultaneously impact 17 European countries, including Germany, France, and Italy. With this unified approach, SSC can now effectively prevent the distribution of infringing products throughout Europe using a single lawsuit.

Among the over 18,000 patents held by SSC, the asserted patent in this lawsuit relates to a revolutionary technology that freely adjusts the brightness and colour of LED lighting products over time. This solution technology is widely used in smart lighting products and colour-tunable lighting. Another asserted patent relates to heat dissipation in LED packages, a crucial technology widely used in automotive lighting where heat dissipation is critical.

Among SSC’s extensive portfolio of over 18,000 patents, the lawsuit is focused on two pivotal technologies. The first revolves around Revolutionary Brightness and Color Adjustment, a patented technology enabling dynamic adjustments to the brightness and colour of LED lighting products over time. This innovation has broad applications, particularly in smart lighting products and colour-tunable lighting solutions.

The second technology concerns Heat Dissipation in LED Packages, addressing a critical aspect of automotive lighting. With the growing dependence on LED technology in vehicles, efficient heat management is imperative. SSC’s patented solution guarantees optimal performance and longevity by effectively managing heat dissipation within LED packages.

Han-seon Park, Executive Vice President of SSC’s marketing department, emphasised the importance of fairness in the market. She stated, “As in life, opportunities should be equitable. Unfortunately, some large LED companies prioritise distributing infringing products over respecting intellectual property rights. This behaviour harms everyone, even those striving for a society built on fair competition.”