On March 26, 2019, a ruling of the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany, (docket number 4a O 72/17) found that white LED used as flashlights in certain smartphones manufactured by HTC Corporation infringed Nichia’s YAG patent EP 0 936 682 (DE 697 02 929). The decision was also rendered against HTC’s affiliates HTC Europe and HTC Germany as well as against Digital River Ireland, which operates HTC’s European web shop. Nichia is awarded damages as compensation for the patent infringement for the period from June 30, 2007 until expiration of the patent on July 29, 2017. The decision is not final and can be appealed by the defendants.

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The HTC’s smartphones for which the Court found that they contained infringing LED were the models HTC U Ultra, HTC U Play, HTC Desire 626 G, HTC One A9s, and HTC One M9.

In 2016, Nichia has also filed a lawsuit against HTC in Japan, accusing HTC Nippon Corporation of infringing Nichia’s Japanese patents JP5177317 and JP5610056 with the white LED on HTC’s smartphone, Desire 626. The case has not been updated yet.

Related reading:
HTC Accused of White LED Patent Infringement by Nichia, Again
Nichia Sues HTC Nippon and Distributor over LED Patent Infringement