Cree and SemiLEDs settle patent lawsuit

27 Jun 2012

Companies agree on injunction prohibiting import of infringing products; Semileds to pay Cree undisclosed sum.

Case closed: LED companies Cree and SemiLEDs have agreed to end their patent dispute.

LED lighting developer Cree, based in Durham, NC, US, and LED chips and LED components maker SemiLEDs, Chu-Nan, Taiwan, have agreed to end their patent infringement litigation. As part of the settlement, SemiLEDs agreed to an injunction effective from October 1, 2012 that prohibits the importation and sale of the its infinging products in the United States.

SemiLEDs has also made an undisclosed one-time payment to Cree for “past damages”. The remaining claims of all parties were dismissed without prejudice to the right to assert the claims in the future. Other terms of the settlement are confidential.

Julio Garceran, chief intellectual property counsel, for Cree, commented, “This resolution emphasizes the breadth and importance of Cree’s patent portfolio and its determination to ensure that Cree’s intellectual property rights are respected.”

Adam Lin, VP of Business Development and General Counsel for SemiLEDs Corporation, commented, "The conclusion of the disputes between SemiLEDs and Cree will allow us to now focus our full resources on developing our business and serving our customers. We continue to innovate and are introducing to the market an exciting, new line of LED products."

Cree illuminates China’s largest street light project

Officials in the Beibei district of Chongqing, China, have recently completed the installation of more than 20,000 street lights featuring 1.9 million Cree XLamp XP-E and XP-G LEDs.

China’s largest municipal intelligent lighting control project began in July 2011 and includes nearly 16 miles of highway, with Cree LED-based luminaires installed along 119 streets and in one tunnel. Officials estimate the installation will result in annual maintenance and electricity savings of more than RMB 19.5 million (approximately USD 3 million) and 17.6 million kWh.

About the Author

Matthew Peach is a contributing editor to optics.org