Nichia filed a patent infringement lawsuit in September 2010. WILMAR acknowledged patent infringement in March, 2011, and agreed to stop marketing infringing products and to change to new products using non-infringing White LEDs. As WILMAR promptly acknowledged patent infringement, an early settlement was reached, and the lawsuit is dismissed. WILMAR also agreed to purchase NICHIA’s White LEDs as non-infringing products.
WILMAR had previously used White LEDs in its products from the following companies, none of whom have been licensed by NICHIA: (a) MLS Electronics Co., Ltd.; (b) Fujian Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd., (c) NINGBO SUNPU OPTO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD., (d) CIXI RUIJIAN ELECTRONIC CO.,LTD., (e) Ninghai Kanghong Electrionics Co.,LTD., (f) Dongguan Winghing Electronic Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
NICHIA gives serious consideration to the protection of its intellectual property and will vigorously enforce its rights against those who infringe its intellectual property in any country.