Despite of Nichia’s successive patent lawsuits, Everlight will ship its brand products to Japan as scheduled in 2012,according to Everlight’s chairman, Y.F. Ye.
Back to early September, Nichia filed a charge against Everlight, alleging that its white LED lamps sold through Japanese retailer Chip On Stop also infringe its No. 4530944 patent.
Following closely, Nichia has again claimed that Everlight’s white LED bulbs entering Japan through importer Tachibana Eletech of Japan infringes its No. 4530094 patent, and brought the charge before Tokyo District Court in early October, appealing for compensation and prohibition on the infringement. Besides, Nichia has demanded Tachibana stop selling the disputed products.
Nevertheless, Everlight countered that Taiwan’s civilian and administrative court rulings made in July 2010 and March 2011 had proved that the Nichia patent’s validity already expired and that Chip On Stop was not its dealer.
According to related statistics, LED bulbs in Japanese consumption has shot up 200-300% after the March 11 earthquake, compared with pre-quake, surpassing for the first time the nation’s consumption of incandescent bulbs.
As a result, Eyeing the huge market potential, Everlight plans to venture its brand products into the market in 2012.