On June 13, 2016, Nichia filed three separate patent lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging infringement of its U.S. Patent No. 8,530,250. This patent describes a method of manufacturing a packaged LED that the patent abstract says is, “… a simple and low-cost method for manufacturing, in a short time, many light emitting devices wherein adhesiveness between a leadframe and a thermosetting resin composition is high.”
The first lawsuit that Nichia Corporation was against Feit Electric Company, Inc. (“Feit”) , a US-based LED lighting distributor. In this lawsuit against Feit, Nichia alleges that Feit has infringed its U.S. Patent No. 8,530,250. Nichia is seeking an injunction directed to the sale and distribution of the allegedly infringing LED lighting products. The Feit products said to infringe Nichia’s patent include the “BPOM60/830/LED Bulb.” Nichia is also seeking damages for Feit’s past infringement.
The second lawsuit is against Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (“Lowe’s”), a US-based retailer of LED lighting and other products, and L G Sourcing, Inc. (“LGS”), the U.S. distributor of products to Lowe’s outlets. Nichia is seeking an injunction directed to the sale and distribution of the allegedly infringing LED lighting products from Lowes. Nichia alleges that Lowe’s “Utilitech Pro 24-in Strip Light” infringes its U.S. 8,530,250 patent. Nichia also seeks damages for defendants’ past infringement.
The third lawsuit Nichia filed was against Mary Elle Fashions, Inc. doing business as Meridian Electric (“Meridian”), a US-based LED lighting distributor. Nichia alleges that Meridian infringed Nichia’s U.S. Patent No. 8,530,250. In this lawsuit, Nichia is seeking an injunction directed to Meridian’s sale and distribution of infringing LED lighting products. The products said to be infringing the Nichia patents include Meridian’s LED 26w Equivalent CFL Plug-In Replacement and Decorative Pleated Shade LED Night Light. Nichia is also seeking damages for Meridian’s past infringement.
Nichia concluded each of the three press releases about the lawsuits with a warning against infringers saying, “Nichia seeks to protect its patents and other intellectual property rights and takes actions against alleged infringers in any country where appropriate and necessary.”
