LG Electronics has failed in the first round of a trade dispute brought by Siemens unit Osram over patents covering LED lighting technology.
According to U.S. International Trade Commission Judge David Shaw said in a notice posted on the agency's website, LG and LG Innotek Co. infringed one Osram patent for LEDs while a second patent wasn't infringed. The reasons behind the judge's determination will be made public after both sides get a chance to redact confidential information.
The patent found to be infringed relates to a semiconductor that emits a blue light and has a layer to convert that light to white. The patent Shaw said wasn't infringed is for a way to make the components so they are less likely to fail from exposure to heat, such as in the manufacturing process.
The judge's findings, if upheld by the full commission, could result in a ban on imports of certain lighting products made by LG Innotek, which is part-owned by LG and supplies LEDs to it.
It's just one case in a global battle for market share, and LG has filed its own complaint with the agency seeking to block Osram products from the U.S. market.
