Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) announced that they have won in two patent administrative suits and confirm the validity of a patent (No. ZL201110066517.7) for red phosphor.

(image: NIMS)

MCC filed the patent infringement litigation with the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court against Shield on January 23, 2015. Another litigation filing with that court was against Intematix, its American parent Intematix Corporation, and Chinese sales agency GrandLux Optoelectronics (collectively, Intematix and two companies), on January 23, 2015.

The court accepted MCC’s claim and issued the patent infringement injunction against all four defendant companies. It also made compensation orders of RMB 6 million (US$ 847 thousand) to Shield and RMB 2 million (US$ 282 thousand) to Intematix and two companies.

Shield and Intematix and two companies have appealed the judgments above. The second instance in the patent infringement suits with Shield and Intematix and two companies is pending, and should soon proceed in view of the court upholding the patent’s validity.

China is the world’s largest producer of LED devices, and also boasts the largest production of white LED device, the main application for red phosphor. The two judgements rejecting the claims of Shield and Intematix, and recognizing the patent’s validity are vital to MCC. The judgements are also important for the phosphor and white LED industries, and should foster sound growth and stability for them.

Related reading:

Intematix Files Appeal in China against Mitsubishi Chemical Regarding Red Nitride Phosphor Patent

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