Samsung Display is effectively terminating its LCD business. The company sold its LCD factory in Suzhou, China, a couple of years ago, and new reports reveal that Samsung has recently completed transferring its LCD-related patents to CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology).
Samsung Display reportedly transferred its LCD-related patents registered in the USA to CSOT earlier this summer. A total of 577 patents registered in the USA got transferred in June, and Samsung handed over additional patents registered in South Korea to CSOT last month. (via The Elec)
In total, since Samsung Display sold its LCD factory to CSOT, the company has reportedly traded around 2,000 LCD-related patents registered at patent offices around the world. However, it is said that Samsung Electronics has likely retained some rights to use certain LCD technologies it might need to cover itself from patent-related lawsuits.
Samsung Electronics also acquires LCD panels from BOE and HKC, the two of which were recently demoted along Samsung's supply chain to low-cost TV panels. Not long ago, Samsung Electronics experienced an oversupply of LCD panels, which prompted the company to suspend the purchase of LCDs. The company was said to have at least 16 weeks' worth of LCD panels for TV.
Meanwhile, Samsung Display is betting on self-luminous (OLED) display technologies and plans to invest more in 8-Gen OLED manufacturingas as the company expects this segment to “grow rapidly to $100 billion by 2030.”
