Samsung gets important win over Chinese rival in OLED patent case

BOE infringed upon Samsung Display's OLED patents

The US ITC has come to its preliminary conclusion that Chinese display maker BOE illegally used Samsung Display's patent for OLED screens. However, it did accept Samsung Display's request to ban the import and sale of BOE's products, which infringed upon the said patents.

The ITC came to its conclusion on November 15 and said BOE infringed on three OLED-related patents from Samsung Display. The importer of BOE's OLED screen infringed upon four Samsung Display patents.

Since Samsung Display is now in an advantageous position, it will request the ITC to reexamine the decision to ban the import and sale of BOE's OLED panels in the USA. The ITC will likely make its final decision sometime in March next year.

If the US ITC ends up banning products (OLED panels) that infringe upon Samsung Display's patents, it could bring a lot of business to Samsung but also increase the prices of smartphones and smartphone repairs in the USA.

This patent case was filed by Samsung Display in December 2022 against 17 importers/wholesalers in the USA. BOE was included as a defendant in this case in March 2023. But BOE isn't the only firm that is supplying OLEDs that infringe upon the patents.

After Samsung Display filed a patent case against 17 importers/wholesalers, BOE, CSOT, Tianma, and Visionox jointly filed an invalidation trial with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

If the ITC concludes that there has been no negative impact by the patent infringement, it is likely that it won't ban the import of OLED panels but order the companies to pay Samsung Display for damages and using the patents illegally.