Highlights this week:

There is increasing German government interference in LED and semiconductor related transactions this week, Osram’s decision to sell its general lighting business to Chinese consortium headed by IDG Capital and included lighting company Forest Lighting (MLS) has been delayed and put on hold.

The German government has become increasingly concerned, even calling off Aixtron’s takeover by Chinese investor Grand Chip Investment over national security concerns raised by the U.S. Sad news for future mergers and acquisitions in the industry as the bar for financing has been significantly raised.

There has been a couple more patent lawsuits this week, mostly related Nichia sues HTC Nippon and distributor over LED patent infringement, while Taiwan-based LED company Liquidleds files second patent lawsuit against Testrite Group. Epistar has finally settled a long term patent litigation with Adamax for an undisclosed sum, and signed new LED filament patent license agreements with Supertrend. Please see Industry News section for further information.

Long term iPhone assembler, Foxconn might have lost its iPhone 8 orders to Chinese sapphire manufacturers, reported Nikkei Review. For further details please see below:

Editor recommendations

1. German Government Puts Chinese Consortium Acquisition of Osram’s LEDVANCE on Hold
2. German Ministry of Economics Withdraws Clearance Certificate of Aixtron's Takeover by Grand Chip Investment
3. Handelsblatt: U.S. Asked Berlin to Call off China-Aixtron Deal
4. What Does National Security Have to Do with Chinese Takeovers of Large Int’l Semiconductor Companies?
5. Sharp to Close LED Display Plant in Hiroshima
6. Lextar Launches Human-Centric Lighting Solutions
7. Roadblocks Ahead of San’an Opto’s Bid for Osram
8. Kateeva Appoints New Senior VP of Human Resources
9. Foxconn Loses iPhone 8 Glass Backs Orders to Chinese Sapphire Makers
10. Epistar Next Generation QD Coated CSP LEDs to Make Breakthrough in Displays
    

What’s trending

1. Value of Global UV-C LED Market Will Grow at CAGR of 56% in 2016~2021 to Reach US$257 Million, Says LEDinside
2. DOE Publishes OLED Luminaires Testing Results
3. Designing 24W Power Supply for Automotive LED Lighting Systems
4. American Council of Health Responds to AMA's Dim View of LED Street Lamps
5. ITRI Unveils R&D Achievements in PCB Smart Manufacturing at the TPCA Show 2016
6. NEMA Publishes New White Paper on How to Reduce Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings

Government projects

• City of Henderson Rolls out Upgrade of 6,200 Light Fixtures to LEDs
• West Kelowna in Canada Converts Streetlights to LED
• India’s Bengaluru is to Receive LED Tube Lights and Slashes Energy Bill

Industry news

1. Hubbell Lighting Launches LED Troffer for Office Lighting
2. Epistar and Supertrend Sign LED Filament Patent License Agreement
3. EPISTAR Settles Patent Litigation with Adamax in U.S.
4. LG Innotek Launches Programmable LED Drivers for Wireless Lighting Controls
5. Toshiba Launches 50Mbps Photocouplers for High-speed Communications
6. Nichia Sues HTC Nippon and Distributor over LED Patent Infringement
7. Liquidleds Files Second Patent Lawsuit against Taiwan-based Testrite Group
8. Acuity Brands VP of Technology Receives IES Medal for Technical Achievement over Pioneer Work in Advancing OLED
9. Quantel Laser Opens New Service Center in China
10. MAXIMUS® Smart Security Light Enhances Home Safety
11. Ushio America Launches New Filament LED Lamps

New products

1. WELLMAX: Dare to be Different
   
2. Qingdao Jason Electric Unveils 10mW UVC LEDs
3. MaxLite Offers ENERGY STAR Certified 60W Equivalent LED Lamp
4. Lighting Science Launches Linear LED Luminaire
5. DENSO Upgrades In-Vehicle Vision Sensors
6. Optronics Releases Ultra-bright LED Headlights
7. Meller Optics Develops Sapphire Waveplates for IR Polarization Control
8. Xicato Launches Smart LED Lighting Control Module
9. USAI Launches Block Shaped LED Ceiling Lights
10. Hubbell Lighting’s Litecontrol Brand Modernizes General Lighting Product Line
11. Vektrex’s Unveils Current Source Series to Improve LED Light Measurements
12. Fulham Showcases Latest LED Drivers at Hong Kong Light Fair
13. Osram Opto Launches New IR LEDs for Car Night Vision Assistance
14. LEDVANCE Advances Light with SYLVANIA LED Lighting Innovations
15. ThinkLite Slashes Energy Bill with Garage Lighting Makeover

Lighting projects

1. Philips Lighting Celebrates Big River Crossing Grand Opening with Smart Lighting System
2. Musco Lighting Enhances Vancouver International Airport Lighting with LED System
3. St. Peter's Square Radiates under New LED Light
4. Glass Art at the Crocker Art Museum Illuminated Under New Lights
5. Cultural Heritage in Romania Spectacularly Lit with LEDs