This week U.S. Department of Energy released two new reports that manufacturers might want to check out over the weekend. The first is pricing and efficacy trend analysis for utility program planning, and the second is a subjective evaluation of LED PAR38 lamps. As Apple signs a long term agreement with GTAT for sapphire substrate production, Chinese manufacturers are also eager to grab a share. Also this week, Beijing court rulings give Nichia an upper hand in its patent wars with Everlight. For further details please see below:

The LED industry has seen some interesting progress this week, starting off with projections by Monocrystal and GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) about possible sapphire substrate shortages triggered by non-LED applications. Adding on top to the good news of LED applications, New York has announced a major overhaul of 250,000 existing streetlights to LED. Interesting technology applications have also emerged this week as Chinese scientists find a way to transmit Internet signals using LED lights. Other interesting news this week as follow: