Samsung fires back at Osram over LED patents

SEOUL, July 17 (Yonhap) -- Samsung LED Co. said Sunday that the company has filed a complaint with the U.S. Trade Commission to seek import bans on Osram GmbH's products for violating its patents.
The move comes after Osram, a light-making unit of Germany-based Siemens AG, accused Samsung LED and LG Electronics Inc. of infringing upon its light-emitting diode (LED) technology, filing complaints last month with the U.S. International Trade Commission, a U.S. district court and a German court.
In response, Samsung lodged a lawsuit against Osram Korea with a Seoul court in June, arguing that the German firm violated its patents.
In addition, Samsung said it plans to make a claim with a Delaware federal court, seeking cash compensation and a court order to block the German company from selling products that use the disputed patents.
A review of Osram's accusation showed its arguments are groundless and in fact revealed the company infringed upon Samsung LED's patents, said a company official, adding Samsung LED will strongly counter Osram's move.
The spate of legal disputes comes as companies vie to secure a bigger stake in the burgeoning LED market. LEDs are noted for their eco-friendliness.
Earlier this month, LG Electronics and its affiliate LG Innotek Co. filed a complaint with the Korea Trade Commission to seek import bans on Osram's products for violating their patents.
The companies said in a statement that they plan to file additional complaints in the U.S., China and other major countries.