Seoul Semiconductor Win Repeated Attempts to Challenge its White LED Patent

SEOUL, KOREA (October 16, 2007) - Seoul Semiconductor (KOSDAQ: 046890), one of the eight largest LED manufacturers in the world, announced today that on October 11, 2007 the Patent Court of Korea turned down appeals brought by Taiwan-based Advanced Optoelectronic Technology Inc.(AOT) and Korea-based ITSWELL to overturn earlier decisions from the Korean Intellectual Property Tribunal. The Tribunal had rejected patent invalidation actions brought by AOT and ITSWELL against Seoul Semiconductor's utility patent for producing white LED.
In 2005, Seoul Semiconductor filed and won all the preliminary injunctions for infringement of patent pertaining to its white LED against AOT and ITSWELL in Seoul Central District Court. AOT and ITSWELL responded to these injunctions by filing invalidation actions against Seoul Semiconductor's white LED patent in the Korean Intellectual Property Tribunal citing that Seoul Semiconductor's white LED patent lacks novelty. The Korean Intellectual Property Tribunal rejected both AOT and ITSWELL's invalidation actions at the end of last year.
AOT and ITSWELL appealed even this ruling issued by of the Korean Intellectual Property Tribunal, and filed lawsuits with the Patent Court of Korea. The October 11 decision from the Patent Court of Korea clearly establishes the Seoul Semiconductor's white LED patent in Korea.
In addition, the Intellectual Property Office in Taiwan rejected AOT's invalidation action against Seoul Semiconductor's white LED patent in Taiwan in August 3, 2007.
Those winnings clearly illustrate the novelty and validity of Seoul Semiconductor's white LED patent, and confirm Seoul Semiconductor's global position as a leading innovator of LED lighting technology.
Seoul Semiconductor is the eighth-largest LED specialist in the world in 2006. The white LED patent was issued in the major countries such as the USA, Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea, establishing a strong foundation for global patent protection.

For more information, please contact:

Rita Kim
Seoul Semiconductor
Tel : +82-31-364-3788
Fax : +82-31-364-3659
email: bleach79@seoul-semicon.co.kr
www.acriche.com

About Seoul Semiconductor
Seoul Semiconductor is the largest LED lighting solutions manufacturer in Korea, and eighth-largest in the world according to Strategies Unlimited. Seoul Semiconductor has been named to Forbes' and BusinessWeek's lists as one of the most promising Asian companies. Its product, Acriche, was recently named as "Product of the Year 2006" by Elektronik, one of the most prestigious electronics magazines in Europe. Seoul semiconductor's primary business areas are LED packaging and custom module manufacturing. It provides a full range of LED products including AC-driven semiconductor light source, Acriche, High-brightness Power, Side View, Top, Chip, Lamp and High Flux LEDs, and custom type modules. Applications for the company's LED products include general lighting, signage, back lighting for mobile phones, TVs, notebook computers, automotive lighting, home appliances, signals, etc. Seoul Semiconductor reported US$200 million in sales in 2006. It has 1,251 patents and 100 licenses as of June 30, 2007. Seoul Semiconductor has 3 overseas corporate offices and 13 branches. Its products are also represented worldwide by more than 90 distributors.

This release was published on openPR.