Nichia had filed a patent infringement suit against Seoul Semiconductor in October 2007 and SemiLEDs (Idaho US). In return, Seoul asked the Korea Intellectual Property Tribunal to investigate the validity of the Nichia’s patent (patent “482″). after an exhustive examination, the KIPT determined that Nichia’s patent “482″ lacked inventiveness and was ruled invalid giving cause for Seoul and SemiLEDs something to cheer about. Incendentilly, the Seoul’s Z-power LED P9 series (the LEDs in question according to Nichias original filing) contained Mvp LED chips from SemiLEDs. This is the second patent infringement case filed by Nichia against Seoul to be dismissed and the Nichia patent ultimately invalidated in the last few months, hurting Nichia and bolstering Seoul’s confidence, if not their market position.
Following the decision from the KIPT, a unnamed Seoul official commented that “following another invalidation of Nichia’s patents, which were asserted against Seoul, Seoul is in a stronger position and feels confident that we will prevail in all the patent infringement lawsuits pending against Nichia.” Ouch! 
Seoul’s spokesperson continued that “as a company which respects patent rights, we will continue to sincerely evaluate the valid scope of all patents relating to our products, and where necessary will not hesitate to verify the facts in patent disputes.”
Nichia had no comment.
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