Samsung Display said a few days ago that amid growing competition in the mobile OLED space, the company will leverage patents in a number of ways. According to TheElec, during Samsung Electronics’ fourth-quarter conference call.
An analyst asked how the company plans to respond to the expanding competition in the small and medium-sized OLED market. Choi Kwon-young, executive vice president of Samsung Display, said that the company will be Different ways to use company patents.
Choi Kwon-young did not elaborate further, but people familiar with the matter told TheElec that this could mean Samsung Display could file patent lawsuits against rivals such as LG Display.
It is reported that Samsung Display is currently the largest mobile OLED panel manufacturer and has a great advantage over its competitors. Apple and Samsung Electronics are some of its largest customers.
A person familiar with the matter said Samsung Display is unlikely to immediately file a patent lawsuit against rivals because Samsung Display, the largest supplier of mobile OLEDs, is losing more than its gains.
Patent lawsuits are usually filed against each other, and compensation is usually proportional to the revenue figure. This means that if both parties are found to infringe the other’s patents, Samsung Display may have to pay more, the people added.
However, in the increasingly fierce competition in the mobile OLED field, Samsung Display may be evaluating various strategies, the report pointed out. Another person familiar with the matter believes that Samsung Display may use an agency such as a non-practicing entity (NPE) to file the lawsuit.
If NPE brought a lawsuit against Samsung Display’s competitors, they could only fight back on the grounds that the patents were invalid.
Separately, Samsung Display may also file lawsuits against rival parts suppliers or distributors in the U.S. in an effort to stifle rivals’ progress, people familiar with the matter said.