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Samsung-LG dispute escalates

Jan. 17, 2013 - 19:56 By Korea Herald
Samsung Display Co. has filed a suit against LG Display Co. seeking the invalidation of the latter’s patents on liquid crystal display, according to legal industry sources Thursday, the latest move in a heated patent tussle between the two display giants.

LG Display, the world’s No. 2 maker of LCD, first raised three patent infringement claims on LCD technologies against Samsung Electronics Co. and Samsung Display.

In a suit filed with the Seoul Central District Court last month, LG Display argued that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 infringed upon three different patents related to LG’s In-Plane Switching technology.

In response, Samsung Display on Tuesday filed a suit with an intellectual property tribunal, claiming that the three LCD patents held by LG Display are invalid as there are already existing patents on the same technology.

“Foreign firms such as Hitachi Electronics of Japan have already registered patents on the same technology,” Samsung Display said in the suit, adding that LG’s patents lack innovation and novelty.

Before the LCD skirmish, the two display makers have already clashed in a heated battle over organic light-emitting diode panel technologies after Samsung accused its rival of an alleged tech leak. LG fired back, arguing Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display infringed seven of its OLED technologies.

LG Display is an affiliate of LG Electronics Inc., the country’s No. 2 mobile phone maker after Samsung Electronics. LG Display also competes with Samsung Display for the top position in the global market for displays. (Yonhap News)