Solas OLED Ltd, a leading Dublin, Ireland-based licensor of technology focused 
on the OLED market, announced today that it has prevailed in its patent 
infringement action in Germany against LG Display Co., LG Display Germany GmbH, 
LG Electronics Inc., LG Electronics Deutschland GmbH, and Sony Europe B.V. In a 
detailed, 43 page decision issued on November 6, 2020, the Mannheim District 
Court in Germany (court ref. 7 O 37/19) held that the defendants had infringed 
Solas' German patent DE 102 54 511 B4 concerning a control circuit for light 
emitting diodes. The technology at issue is used in screens in certain LG and 
Sony OLED televisions.

Ciaran O'Gara, Managing Director of Solas, commented: "We are pleased with the 
decision, in particular the Court's acknowledgement that the efforts of patent 
licensing companies such as ours, to enforce an injunction in order to 
encourage infringers to take a license, is an inherent part of the patent 
system and part of the applicable legal and economic order. It is through this 
system that innovators are rewarded and encouraged to continue to innovate."   

As a result of the decision, which can be appealed, and subject to Solas 
posting a security as indicated by the Court, among other obligations the 
defendants will have to cease and desist from marketing infringing products in 
Germany; they will have to recall from commercial customers all infringing 
products; and must render to Solas a detailed accounting necessary to establish 
damages owed by the defendants for sales of infringing products in Germany 
dating back to April, 2009.

Of particulate note, the Mannheim District Court stated "[i]n the opinion of 
the Chamber, the fact that a patent enforcement entity seeks to enforce a cease 
and desist claim in order to encourage infringers to take out a license is 
therefore not per se such an exceptional case [justifying to deny an 
injunction], but immanent to the patent system as part of the applicable legal 
and economic order (see already Chamber, judgment of 27.02.2009 - 7 O 94/08, 
BeckRS 2009, 08150). The fact that the plaintiff is not active in the market as 
a manufacturer, but rather exploits the research and development work carried 
out by the University of Stuttgart does not constitute an illegitimate business 
purpose. Rather, the plaintiff thereby indirectly financially supports the 
university's research and development activities in favor of the commercial 
technology market."

About Solas OLED

Solas OLED Ltd is an Irish OLED technology licensing company based in Dublin. 
Established in 2016, Solas has assembled one of the world's largest, most 
important and comprehensive intellectual property portfolios in the OLED space. 
From the smallest OLED watch to the largest OLED TV, Solas' intellectual 
property is fundamental to the design, circuitry and manufacturing of OLED 
displays.

Solas continues to develop, seek, evaluate and acquire patents in the OLED 
space, please visit www.solasoled.com 

SOURCE: Solas OLED Ltd