Toyoda Gosei and Philips Lumileds Share LED Patents

JCNN News Summaries - Japan Corporate News Network, Apr 5, 2006 by Aki Tsukioka

Tokyo, Apr 5, 2006 - (JCN) - Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. and Lumileds Lighting International B.V., now a majority owned subsidiary of Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands, have entered an agreement to allow the companies (including subsidiaries) to use each other's patents for specific technologies in Group III-V semiconductor light emitting diodes, which include blue LEDs and red LEDs.

Philips Lumileds holds valuable patents for high-brightness red LEDs and high-power blue LEDs. Toyoda Gosei likewise holds a number of valuable patents for blue LEDs. Lumileds and Toyoda Gosei agreed to construct an environment wherein they will respect and mutually utilize each other's technologies in order to further advance the market for LED products.

The agreement, announced on April 3, will allow both Philips Lumileds and Toyoda Gosei significantly more freedom in their development efforts by eliminating the need for concern about each other's patents. By facilitating research at both companies, new developments in LED technology are anticipated, including an acceleration of research to improve the luminosity of LEDs.

Toyoda Gosei and Philips Lumileds each intend to maintain a friendly business relationship and pursue the development of superior high-luminosity LEDs and further expansion of the LED market through fair competition.