On August 30, 2019, EPISTAR filed a patent infringement lawsuit against GMY Lighting Technology (GMY), Lightinthebox Holding, Light In The Box, Lightinthebox International Logistic, and LITB, (collectively, LITB) in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint asserts that GMY’s LED filament bulbs sold and offered for sale on GMY and LITB’s website infringe seven EPISTAR patents, and seeks injunctive relief to halt further sale of the infringing products.

EPISTAR’s complaint alleges that GMY’s LED filament bulbs, such as the GMY A19 LED Filament Bulb, infringe upon one or more claims of EPISTAR’s U.S. Patent Numbers 7,560,738, titled “Light-Emitting Diode Array Having An Adhesive Layer,” 7,489,068, titled “Light Emitting Device,” 9,664,340, titled “Light Emitting Device,” 8,240,881, titled “Light Emitting Device Package,” 10,224,455, titled, “Light Emitting Device And Method Of Forming The Same,” 9,065,022, titled “Light-Emitting Apparatus,” and 10,247,395, titled “Light Emitting Device.”

Since its founding in 1996, EPISTAR has been at the forefront of the LED filament technology revolution. As a pioneer in the industry, EPISTAR has invested millions of dollars in the research and development of cutting-edge LED filament technologies, which led to the making of commercialization of LED filament light bulbs, elevating the performance of LED filament light bulbs in light emission and durability. The investments further minimized the size and cost of manufacturing so as to facilitate the widespread popularity of LED filament light bulbs. The innovations from EPISTAR’s investments have resulted in numerous awards and recognitions such as the Taiwan Outstanding Photonics Product Award in 2013, as well as over hundreds issued patents and pending patent applications covering various fundamental aspects of LED filament technologies. EPISTAR’s intellectual property has laid the foundation for LED filament and filament light bulb technologies, empowering state-of-the-art products for ever-growing consumers worldwide.

EPISTAR is deeply committed to protecting its extensive investment in the development of LED filament technology. EPISTAR’s strong commitment not only protects its investment, but ensures a brighter future for LED filament technology worldwide. In addition to engaging in extensive licensing activities to protect EPISTAR’s intellectual property, EPISTAR has, in several instances, resorted to litigation to protect its innovations when deemed necessary, to protect EPISTAR as well as its partners and customers. As a result of the litigations, the defendants, Newhouse Lighting and All Star Lighting, have recognized the strength of EPISTAR’s LED filament patents and settled with EPISTAR. Moreover, EPISTAR has licensed its filament patent portfolio to Super Trend Lighting, QL Light Source, and Kaistar. EPISTAR expects to continue its enforcement activities in the years to come.