Over the last two weeks, two Taiwanese LED manufacturers Harvatek and Knightbright decided to settle patent disputes with Cree, ending a nearly two year lawsuit. Both Taiwanese vendors agreed to sign patent royalties for an undisclosed sum. Few details have been released about the conditions of the settlements. It is becoming clearly evident that Cree’s strategy is centered on cashing in from its LED patent portfolio, said a LEDinside analyst, who chose to remain anonymous.

Cree, a leader in LED lighting, announced today that it has reached a confidential settlement in its patent infringement lawsuit with Kingbright, Inc. Kingbright and Cree have agreed to a royalty bearing, worldwide license to the Cree patents-in-suit, thereby ending the lawsuit between the parties.

NEMA's Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) continued its recent volatile behavior, dropping to a neutral 50 points in April after surging to 64.7 in March from 44.4 in February. Nineteen percent of panelists reported conditions improved in April, down from 41% in March. Another 19% reported the business environment worsened in April, up from 12% in March. The vast majority, though, claimed conditions were unchanged in April, up from the 47% who held this view a month ago.

Indian LED manufacturer Syska launched a colorful smart LED bulb in the local market at a price of INR 1,999 (US $30.96), reported Techradar.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP will be presenting flexible organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) at AIMCAL 2016 in Dresden, Germany, from May 30th to June 2nd, 2016. These OLEDs have been fabricated on ultra-thin glass and encapsulated with a ultra-thin glass foil in the same process.

The Sohar Port and Freezone located in Middle East nation Oman, announced that it will be installing LED streetlight systems within premises of the port and freezone, reported Times of Oman.

Chico, a city in California, U.S. will be replacing its streetlights with more efficient LED lights in the next four to six weeks, reported The Orion.

Started from last week, New York’s night skies were lit by up to 2,000 pigeons flew with LEDs strapped to their legs. The performance held in Brooklyn Navy Yard, named “Fly by Night”, was launched by artist Duke Riley. The massive flock followed the artist’s whistle, circled in the sky for 30 minutes over the deck of a decommissioned U.S. Navy ship.

It has been confirmed that Philips Lighting will be issuing an IPO instead of being put up for sale, Philips will gradually sell more than 25% of its stake in the lighting business. Additionally, the company’s IPO announcement will disappoint several investors, such as Go Scale Capital, Melrose, and Apollo to name a few that had previously been interested in submitting bidding proposals. The company’s lighting arm in Thailand has also decided to shut down its fluorescent bulb factory as market penetration of LEDs escalate in the local market to more than 34%.

India’s national LED program Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA), will be implemented nationwide by 2019, said the country’s Minister for Power and Coal, Piyush Goyal recently.

MLS released its 1Q16 earnings last week, reporting the company’s revenue of 9.15% year on year (YoY) growth at RMB 819 million (US $125.8 million).

The market for automotive LED components has grown rapidly in recent years. In the interior automotive lighting application market, the penetration of LED products has reached 70% to 80%. The number of vehicles using LED headlamps has also increased considerably.  Among Taiwan-based LED package suppliers, EVERLIGHT has been the most active in the automotive LED market. As one of the leading LED manufacturers worldwide, EVERLIGHT has overcome technology barriers to achieve mass production capability to provide a wide range of automotive LED products. In a recent interview with LEDinside, Torrent Chin, Associate Vice President, Product R&D Marketing, EVERLIGHT, discussed in detail the company’s developments in the automotive LED market and trends observed.

Cree announces that Darren Jackson, most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Advance Auto Parts (AAP), a position he held from January 2008 to January 2016, has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective May 3, 2016.

Today Lumileds and Arrow Electronics announced a strategic agreement for the global distribution of Lumileds comprehensive portfolio of application optimized LEDs including high power, mid power, low power, CoB, color and UV LEDs as well as the infinitely configurable Matrix Platform. The agreement aligns with both companies’ dedication to providing customers with responsive, accelerated service and reliable, high performance solutions.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) latest sustainability campaign is offering discounts of up to 25% to selected brand LED bulbs to urge local residents to switch to more energy efficient and environmental friendly lights, reported Gulf News.

The result of financial probe of the extravagant lighting show held by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was revealed, reported Bangkok Post.

A senior Samsung Electronic TV business official reaffirmed plans that the company would not be making OLED TVs in the near future, and will be focusing on quantum dot (QD) TVs next year, according to a Korea Herald report.

 Revenues of $78 million, down 21% compared with the same period last year GAAP net loss per share of $0.40 and Non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.15 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of negative $2.1 million

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) announced that ANSI Accredited Standards Committee C78 reaffirmed ANSI C78.42 High-Pressure Sodium Lamps. This standard sets forth the physical and electrical requirements for HPS lamps, to ensure performance and interchangeability. The data given also provides the basis for the electrical requirements for ballasts and ignitors, as well as the lamp-related requirements for luminaires.  

The flow of shipments, distribution deals, and retail purchases occurring at Snap Light, LLC headquarters is a clear indication that availability of their new LED Light Case, the SnapLight™ Case, has filled a welcomed gap in the tech industry’s cell phone accessories market. International demand including deals across three continents, orders from lifestyle and fashion giants and negotiations with top buyers from other notable big box tech retailers have placed the SnapLight™ Case among the tech industry’s 2016 must-have list and other top products: All in less than 30 days.

    A U.S.-based startup launched crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for its personal outdoor illuminating gadget, ONE8Ø. The team has secured US $111, 153, which is almost 10 times of their pledged goal, from 1,777 backers.   One80 got its name from the semicircular design, offering both headlamp and waist light for selection.   The 180 degree light, which is also the origin of its name, enable wider view during outdoor activities. The semicircular light strip set the user free from repeatedly turning one’s head for illumination. ...

Royal Philips announced on Tuesday its lighting business’s “historical” Initial Public Offering (IPO), which will result in the listing of the lighting business on the Dutch bourse , and aims to sell at least 25% of its shares in the lighting company. The announcement ended contending Chinese and foreign investors takeover bid of the lighting business.

Demand of LED has resumed in the second quarter. Leading Taiwanese LED chip maker Epistar reached full production capacity in AlGaInP LEDs. Meanwhile, Unity Opto is expected to see two-digit growth in the second quarter as its order visibility rose to two months.

As the dress code goes by “Tech white tie” under the theme “Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology” for Met Gala 2016, many Hollywood celebrities naturally opt for shining, metallic and sleek textures for their nightgowns.

Shawn Hakim and Jacqueline Gallardo recently launched a campaign on Indiegogo to raise money for solar-charging LED lamps for people resident in off grid area deep in Dominican jungles.

Philips confirmed on Tuesday it will be spinning off its Philips Lighting through Initial Public Offering (IPO), reported Reuters.

In October of 2015 the City of Albuquerque in New Mexico, U.S., through the Department of Municipal Development and Department of Accounting and Financial Services/ Purchasing Division, released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the evaluation and implementation of energy efficiency and reduced maintenance project for city owned street lighting. After much review of all proposals received, Citelum Group was selected as the winning bidder. As part of their contract, Citelum will evaluate and develop a plan to convert approximately 19,000 city-owned street lights to LED.

Google (also known as Alphabet) has patented a display that can be ripped and disposed, according to Mesh Republic and numerous reports.

LG Display will be investing another KRW 140 billion (US $123 million) into mass producing OLED panels for lighting during first half of 2017, reported Nikkei Asian Review.

Cree a leader in LED lighting, announced that it has reached a confidential settlement in its patent infringement lawsuit with Harvatek. Harvatek has agreed to a royalty bearing, worldwide license to the Cree patents-in-suit, thereby ending the lawsuit between the parties. Harvatek will pay Cree a license issue fee and ongoing royalties as part of the license agreement.