Patent door stuck in China LED Shenzhen enterprises Baotuan attack

Recently, there are two Shenzhen LED (light-emitting diode) companies in overseas patent litigation, and finally settled in settlement of compensation. Gui Shirong, executive vice president of the Federation of Shenzhen LED industry recently worried.

Similar to the past DVD industry, the core patent barriers like a hanging in the China LED industry head Damour Damocles sword because of core patents were overseas manufacturers, Chinese enterprise always face the risk of core patent infringement.

Related to the reality of an industry is that more than 60% of China's LED products are sold in Europe and the United States and other overseas markets.

Because the global LED market is in its infancy, the current LED companies in China patent litigation is still very limited. China Optical Photonics Industry Association executive director of the Board believes that, but with the expansion of the market, China's LED companies face patent risk will be higher and higher.

"This time, we can not lose at the starting line. Business song reminder, in order to avoid the mistakes of China's LED industry repeat DVD industry: in the LED patent war, Chinese enterprises should respond in advance. "

In April 28th, Shenzhen LED Patent Alliance preparatory meeting held in Shenzhen, more than 70 LED companies get together, and relates to the field of LED chip, lighting, backlight, display etc.. This will be the first LED patent technology industry alliance.

One of Gui Shirong is the League sponsor he lamented: "LED patent wars, Chinese enterprise challenges are great, but a chance. "

LED patent barriers

According to the reporter, at present the upstream LED chip field core patented technology mainly in PHILPS, OSRAM, several foreign manufacturers nichia.

For example, chip manufacturing technology and mainstream technology of sapphire substrate silicon carbide substrate technology, currently only by Japan's Nichia Corporation and the American Cree company to control, our country is mostly used sapphire substrate technology in Japan Nichia, but need to pay a lot of money in Japan Nichia patent fees.

Chinese companies want to break through the LED patent blockade in the upstream, in fact, is very difficult. "Special Lighting Co., Ltd. chairman Feng Jun told reporters, it is foreign manufacturers in the upstream of patented technology to control the pressure Chinese LED as a tool for manufacturers in the overseas market".

In the past year, the Chinese patent litigation LED companies have increased significantly. Shang Song told this reporter, while the patent war approach is not limited to a simple lawsuit.

Patent war is only a means of market competition, so many foreign competitors have a patent, the letter will be sent directly to the lawyer of China's alleged infringement of LED enterprises in overseas downstream customers. "Shang Song told reporters, because of fear of downstream customers assume joint responsibility, often will therefore stop on China LED purchases:" the results of many China LED enterprises in overseas, until lost, did not know he was being sued for patent infringement. "

In fact, from the distribution of Chinese LED companies overseas market layout, you can also see the patent barrier mark. According to our reporter, at present, China's LED application products are mainly concentrated in Europe, South America and other major markets. In the great demand for the Japanese market in LED, Chinese brands have not set foot in.

In the Japanese market, China's LED enterprises are basically OEM OEM shipments, and there is no independent brand. Feng Jun analysis, one of the important reasons is that the Japanese market for patent infringement investigation extreme: it makes a lot of Chinese companies, had to take the initiative to give up this huge market demand. "

Patent wars in China

From the surface, the Chinese and foreign LED patent war seems to be a strength of the contest.

It is reported that, in the core of LED patented technology, especially white light, high power LED lamp thermal balance problem, durable and efficient fluorescent powder and other key patents, has been European, American, Japanese manufacturers monopoly.

From the industrial structure, although foreign manufacturers have core patents, but do not have the production advantage. "Feng Jun told reporters that the process to China transfer in foreign low-end electronic manufacturing industry, the industry also gradually to the Chinese transfer, for example in the downstream plastic, hardware, chemical, mold and other LED integrated industrial chain, Chinese has a perfect matching advantage.

The same LED application products, foreign mature cycle takes two years, while in China's industrial environment requires only three months. Feng Jun said.

This leads to a fact that can not be ignored is the fact that more than 70% of the world's LED application products processing and manufacturing are completed in China - this is the LED patent war, China has the main weight.

China LED enterprise's technological advantages, focused on downstream applications and integration. Li Zhijiang, chairman of the board of science and technology, said in an interview with reporters, from the integration level and speed of the application of products, some Chinese LED application technology has been the world leader. For example, Mason high power lighting in the testing period of one year, has achieved zero attenuation leading industry "".

In this context, in the downstream application fields of LED, Chinese enterprises have accumulated a large number of patents. According to the high tech LED Industry Research Center survey, as of the end of 2008, China's LED patent applications for a total of 26071, which is located in the middle reaches of the industry and downstream packaging and Application Patents close to 50%.

Upstream core patent industrialization, must be achieved through the industrialization of downstream LED applications