Intellectual properties are crucial for technology developers and manufacturers. As a result, the disputes for patented technologies continue to go on. This week, Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) announced its victory of patent infringement litigation and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has begun investigation for the patent infringement case raised by UC Santa Barbara.

MCC reported that on July 31 it obtained a judgement recognizing the infringement of its patent for red phosphor in China by the defendants, U.S.-based Intematix Corporation, its affiliate in China, Intematix Suzhou Lighting and its sales agency, GrandLux Optoelectronics.

MCC filed a suit in the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court in 2015, alleging that products of Intematix and two companies infringed the patent (No. ZL201110066517.7*) for red phosphor which is owned by MCC and the National Institute for Materials Science. MCC sought an injunction on the production and sale of phosphors in China and damages in this litigation. The court recognized MCC’s claim and adjudicated an injunction to the aforementioned Intematix and two companies’ infringement action and to order Intematix and two companies to pay a total of RMB 2 million yuan (US$ 279,670) as compensation.

Meanwhile, the law firm, Nixon Peabody, posted that ITC has instituted an investigation based on a complaint filed by the Regents of the University of California (UC), alleging unauthorized importation and sales of filament LED light bulbs that infringe UC patents by five major retailers: Amazon.com, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ikea, Target, and Walmart.

The investigation is part of a first-of-its-kind patent enforcement campaign launched by UC to promote respect for its patent rights in revolutionary lighting technology developed by a Nobel laureate–led research group at UC Santa Barbara. Among the campaign’s unique attributes is the seeking of relief by a university system from the ITC—an approach rarely considered by academic patent owners. Lawsuits seeking the payment of reasonable royalties were filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against the same retailers.

Related readings:

UC Santa Barbara Files Patent Lawsuit against IKEA, Amazon and other Retailers for Selling Filament LED Bulbs

Mitsubishi Chemical Wins Patent Lawsuit for Red Phosphor against China’s Yantai Shield Advanced Materials