According to reports, the Korean government will attempt to resolve Samsung's and LG OLED technology dispute. Policymakers in Korea say that cannot afford this conflict to escalate because Japanese and Taiwanese display makers are advancing in their own OLED technologies - potentially harming Korea's interests.
The latest news from that dispute came in November 2012 when Samsung filed a patent invalidation suit against seven of LGD's OLED patents. Two months earlier, LG Display filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics over OLED technology, saying that Samsung infringed upon seven of its OLED patents which relate to the design of the OLED panel, the driver circuitry and device design. LG seeks damages - and also a permanent injunction against the sale of Samsung's Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 in South Korea.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
Earlier in September Samsung Display filed a lawsuit against LG over OLED technology tech leak. Samsung claims that LG Display stole 18 confidential technologies relating to OLED displays, and also gave some of the information to a third party. Samsung also reported that two of its OLED TVs were 'lost' during the shipment to the IFA exhibition, and this may be another case of industry espionage. In July 2012 we reported that 11 former and current Samsung employees were charged of giving LG Display confidential OLED technology.
The Koreans are not the only ones fighting about OLED IP. A few of months ago ago Taiwan's AU Optronics filed a suit against two of its former executives, charging them with an illegal transfer of OLED technology to China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT, a subsidiary of TCL). Back in May 2012 the Korean police started to investigate another case of OLED technology leakage - this time by Israeli company Orbotech's local Korean branch. Orbotech employees are suspected of leaking AMOLED technology from both LG Display and Samsung to several Chinese and Taiwanese companies.
