On November 26, 2019, Seoul Semiconductor announced to auction its radio frequency (RF) semiconductor patent portfolio and a high-power LED package patent portfolio.

In the first auction, Seoul Semiconductor is seeking the top bidder for 80 patent assets related to power amplifiers and gallium nitride (GaN) RF semiconductors, including 54 U.S. patents. Three of the patents are licensed to the U.S. Air Force or the U.S. Army.

In the second auction, Seoul Semiconductor will auction more than 100 patents, including US, European, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean patents related to high power LED packages and adaptive lighting. High power LED packages are used in smartphone and automotive applications. Adaptive lighting is used in smartphone camera lenses and flash-lights and automotive headlights. In addition, these are some of the essential patents for high power LED chips enabling thin and small design of lenses and flash-lights to respond to market demands for diverse functions of smartphone camera.

On December 12, 2019, the company announced to extend the auction date to February 28, 2020. Thus far, it’s only less than two weeks until the auction. How’s everything going on?

Focusing on LED patent portfolio, LEDinside was honored to interview Bastian July, CEO of GoodIP, who shared his view on Seoul Semiconductor’s auction, such as the current progress and the value of LED patents.

Bastian July, CEO of GoodIP

According to Bastian, Seoul Semiconductor believes the auction can be a good opportunity for fast growing companies to acquire key patents. In an auction, everyone on the market gets the same chance to place a bid. Additionally, the auction has the desired effect: Even more attention for the LED market!

“GoodIP is selected to run this auction. As a tech marketplace, GoodIP helps companies to make money with their IP (intellectual property). We have a very high level of LED and patent expertise. We at GoodIP understand for which companies LED patents are extremely valuable. Also, GoodIP is the tech marketplace that deploys digital channels to reach those interested companies. In turn, those channels give everybody around the world the same chance to bid for key IP,” said Bastian.

In terms of the LED patents to be auctioned, their applications cover automotive head lamps, backlighting for TVs and smartphones, and adaptive lighting, etc. In addition, they will also make an influence on products in other fields, including human-centric LED lighting, smart street lighting, UV LED, high-power & mid-power LED and CSP.

As a whole, Bastian reputed that Seoul Semiconductor’s LED patents portfolio is of great value. From his perspective, LED lighting is changing the world. Emerging fields like Micro LED and UV LED will usher in even more great products and market applications. Besides, LED is more than visible light. For instance, LEDs light up the screens of our smartphones while UV LEDs can disinfect surfaces and water. As a result, the LED patent portfolio attracts fast growing companies even outside the LED industry. They can create much value to any kind of company that is looking in the LED world right now!

In respect to potential buyers, Bastian implied that amongst others, several LED makers, automotive lighting enterprises and patent licensing entities all evince great interest in acquiring the patents. He also mentioned Chinese LED companies. As Chinese LED companies are expanding business and enriching product series, acquiring major IP stake is significant for them.

Currently, GoodIP has received bids from potential buyers. Bastian said they got the first bid earlier than expected and more bids will come in over the next few days. As to the specific amount of the bid, Bastian just commented that everything remains interesting. The final result may come out in March. (Editor: Janice Chan of LEDinside)