Signify filed patent infringement lawsuit in the U.S. against Chinese lighting company Yeelight for patents related to color tunable LED bulbs, according to EdisonReport.

Signify filed the patent infringement action against Yeelight, who manufacture smart LED bulb that competes with Signify’s Philips Hue LED Smart Bulb. According to the EdisonReport, the case is the first infringement case Signify has filed against Chinese manufacturer who has no operations in the U.S. other than online sales.

The infringement lawsuit covered five patents: U.S. Patent Nos. 6,969,954; 6,692,136; 7,014,336; 7,255,457; and 9,184,497. Among the five patents, four of them are expected to be expired during December 2019 to August 2021, before the legal case runs its course.

Elco van Groningen, Senior Manager Press Office, Signify, noted confirmed the news and noted that the five asserted patents are part of the EnabLED licensing program, under which licenses are available to companies offering products that practice these patented technologies. The patents generally relate to different technologies and techniques for color-changing and tunable white LED-based lighting systems, driving or controlling LEDs, wirelessly-controlled LED-based lighting systems, and temperature control and construction of wireless LED-based products.