Administrative Judge Assignment Soon
Investigation into Intellectual Property Infringement
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has decided to initiate an investigation into allegations that China's Jingdongfang (BOE) stole Samsung Display's technology and leaked trade secrets.
On the 30th of last month (local time), the ITC announced on its website, "We have resolved to investigate certain organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display modules and their components," adding, "The investigation will be based on the complaint filed by Samsung Display."
The ITC's chief administrative law judge will soon assign an administrative law judge to handle this case. Typically, the administrative law judge investigates and makes a decision within a 16-month period on whether there has been an intellectual property infringement under Section 337 of the Tariff Act. The ITC then reviews this and makes a final decision.
Earlier, on October 31, Samsung Display filed a lawsuit with the ITC against BOE and eight of its subsidiaries for trade secret infringement. In the complaint, Samsung Display alleged that since late 2017, BOE has violated U.S. law through unfair competition practices, including infringing intellectual property rights related to OLED panel and module technology via its partner company, Toptec.
Previously, in March, the Suwon High Court found Toptec employees guilty of selling Samsung Display's edge panel technology?which implements curved edges on mobile phone screens?to China.
During the trial, Samsung Display reportedly detected evidence of BOE and other Chinese companies' involvement in the technology leak, prompting the current lawsuit.
Separately, in June, Samsung Display filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, claiming that BOE is infringing its patents by selling panels similar to those used in the iPhone 12 in the U.S. market.
In July, Samsung Display emphasized its firm stance on responding strongly to the serious level of theft and infringement of its intellectual property assets.
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