Business Wire

Everlight Electronics That Illegally Obtained LED Technology Was Charged

13.9.2018 16:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release

Share

Seoul Semiconductor (KOSDAQ:046890), a leading global innovator of LED products and technology, has announced that the International Crimes 4 Team at the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in Korea is expected to detain three individuals, “A” – a former Managing Director of Seoul Semiconductor, “B” and “C” – former employees of Seoul Semiconductor, who divulged automotive LED technology that cost KRW 560 billion and seven years in development to Everlight Electronics, a competitor of Seoul Semiconductor located in Taiwan.

The three individuals will be charged for violating the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology, and the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act, and forwarded for prosecution.

Moreover, the CEO of Everlight Electronics and Everlight itself, both liable for the technology divulgence, have been charged under the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology.

A, a former Managing Director of Seoul Semiconductor, took umbrage during his salary negotiations and sought out new employment opportunities using technology illegally obtained from Seoul Semiconductor as leverage. During the course of his search, A agreed to join Everlight Electronics in Taiwan as a high-paid Vice President.

Furthermore, investigations revealed that A attempted to use the information he gleaned illicitly from Seoul Semiconductor to develop an LED product for automotive headlights. To expedite development, A offered B and C, both researcher and former subordinate of A at Seoul Semiconductor, salary increases of 200% each and new jobs at Everlight Electronics in return for technical data from Seoul Semiconductor.

B and C took out laptops from the company to show secret materials of Seoul Semiconductor to A, and browsed for the secret information using their laptops at home on weekends to avoid suspicion from their colleagues. B and C also took photos of the information and either sent them via SNS or delivered them in person at Everlight Electronics in Taiwan.

In particular, B and C learned that Seoul Semiconductor had filed an injunction lawsuit against A for prohibition of competitive transaction as he joined Everlight Electronics in Taiwan, and used aliases and fake business cards to avoid litigation. They even denied the fact they were under the employ of Everlight Electronics during the investigation.

However, facts of the case showed that B and C were offered twice their previous salaries at Seoul Semiconductor, residence fee, monthly a week-long holidays, and round-trip airfares, etc. from Everlight Electronics.

Seoul Semiconductor invests approximately 10% of its annual sales into development of LED technology. In 2011, it produced automotive LED the first in Korea. As a result of its endeavors, Seoul Semiconductor holds more than 12,000 patents, and has been listed as one of the top companies around the world in terms of Patent Power compiled by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), a global technical professional organization for electronics and electrical based in the USA. Seoul Semiconductor is the fourth largest LED manufacturer globally. The global LED lighting market currently stands at KRW 37 trillion. However forecasts expect the sector to reach KRW 52 trillion moving forward.

Separate from this case, Seoul Semiconductor has filed lawsuits against Everlight Electronics in Taiwan for five LED patent infringements.

“We estimate that, if A, B, and C were not discovered and charged, it would have lost KRW 560 billion in research and development over a seven-year period, and encroached upon its sales which currently stands at KRW 1 trillion per year,” said Yong Tae Lee, compliance department executive vice president of Seoul Semiconductor.

“The Police will leverage all legal procedures to track down suspects who leak and divulge technology overseas, as in this case, even when said suspects flee the country. Also, it will cooperate with relevant authorities to enforce measures that will allow the Police to restrict imports/exports and prohibit entry of personnel from foreign corporations that engage in industrial espionage. Moreover, it will continue to work on recovering financial damages caused by the divulgence of technology,” said the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency.

Lawsuits for LED patent infringements against Everlight Electronics (“E”)

#   Case   Date & News Release
1

SSC v. E
(4)

May 2017  

In Germany, Seoul Semiconductor filed “two” patent infringement litigations against a distributor of Everlight products

2 Feb. 2018

Seoul Semiconductor wins patent litigation against Everlight in the UK and the UK court orders Everlight to pay significant Litigation costs to Seoul Semiconductor

3 Feb. 2018

In Italy, Seoul Semiconductor files a patent infringement litigation against a distributor of Everlight products

4 Jul. 2018

In Japan, Seoul Semiconductor files a patent infringement litigation against a distributor of Everlight products

5

Nichia v. E
(5)

Mar. 2016

In China, Nichia filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Everlight’s China subsidiary

6 Oct. 2016

The Japan court rules that distributors of Everlight products infringed Nichia’s patent

7 Nov. 2016

The German court grants preliminary injunctions against Everlight’s LED products for infringement of Nichia’s patent

8 May 2017

U.S. Federal Court affirms that Everlight infringed Nichia’s patent

9 Jul. 2017

The German court rules that Everlight’s German subsidiary infringed Nichia’s patent

10  

Bridgelux v. E
(1)

  Aug. 2017  

In U.S., Bridgelux files a patent Litigation against Everlight for infringement of 5 patents

 

* As a result of a lawsuit regarding the prohibition on the change of employment, which forbids a person from joining a competitor of his/her former employer for a set period of time (1~2 years) after termination, defendant A was ordered to pay KRW 100 million for violating his Non-competition agreement and joining Everlight Electronics, and a further KRW 2 million per day if A continues employment at Everlight Electronics. (Seoul Central District Court, April 2017).

About Seoul Semiconductor
Seoul Semiconductor develops and commercializes light emitting diodes (LEDs) for automotive, general illumination, specialty lighting, and backlighting markets. As the fourth-largest LED manufacturer globally, Seoul Semiconductor holds more than 12,000 patents, offers a wide range of technologies, and mass produces innovative LED products such as SunLike – delivering the world’s best light quality in a next-generation LED enabling human-centric lighting optimized for circadian rhythms; WICOP – a simpler structured package-free LED which provides market leading color uniformity and cost savings at the fixture level, providing high lumen density and design flexibility; NanoDriver Series – the world’s smallest 24W DC LED drivers; Acrich, the world's first high-voltage AC-driven LED technology developed in 2005, including all AC LED-related technologies from chip to module and circuit fabrication, as well as multi-junction technology (MJT); and nPola, a new LED product based on GaN-substrate technology that achieves more than ten times the output of conventional LEDs. UCD constitutes a high color gamut display which delivers more than 90% NTSC. To learn more, visit www.seoulsemicon.com.

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

Contact information

Seoul Semiconductor Inc.
Jeonghee Kim, +82-70-4391-8311
jeonghee.kim@seoulsemicon.com

About Business Wire

For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

3D Systems Achieves Full-Scope EU MDR Certification, Accelerating European Launch of NextDent® Jetted Denture Solution Targeted for Summer 202625.3.2026 18:20:00 EET | Press release

3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) today announced it has received full-scope certification under the European Union Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR) 2017/745. The certification was attained on Monday, March 16, 2026. This milestone confirms that the Company’s quality system, technical documentation, and clinical evidence meet the most rigorous regulatory requirements in the medical device sector. With the MDR certificate in hand, 3D Systems will now introduce MDR-compliant product versions through a carefully coordinated, phased rollout across its dental product families and European markets. This approach ensures a smooth transition while maintaining uninterrupted product availability for customers and healthcare providers. The EU MDR certification immediately enables the introduction of innovative new materials and is a pivotal step for one of 3D Systems’ largest potential new product launches: the NextDent® Jetted Denture Solution. This solution forms the cornerstone of the Company’s ‘replac

Visa to Bring Privacy-Preserving Payments to Canton Network25.3.2026 18:00:00 EET | Press release

Visa (NYSE:V), a global leader in digital payments, today announced it will join the Canton Network as the first major global payments company to serve as a Super Validator, to help extend privacy‑preserving blockchain infrastructure to banks and financial institutions around the world. Visa will be one of 40 Super Validators on Canton. That move goes straight to a core challenge for financial institutions: the same transparency that gives blockchains their appeal can clash with privacy expectations financial institutions operate under. Canton Network, a blockchain built for regulated finance, has privacy built in from the beginning, so organizations can use shared infrastructure without exposing sensitive information. As a Super Validator, Visa will help clients who choose to run and secure operations on the Canton Network, applying the same trusted and reliable standards it uses to operate critical payment systems today. Institutions can experiment with and scale stablecoin payments,

Andersen Consulting Adds Collaborating Firm Stratis Consulting in Ireland25.3.2026 15:30:00 EET | Press release

Andersen Consulting enters into a Collaboration Agreement with Stratis Consulting, a Dublin-based firm specializing in strategic employment relations, people strategy, and workplace policy. Founded in 2017, Stratis Consulting is an advisory firm recognized for its deep expertise in employment relations and leadership strategy. The firm works closely with senior executives, boards, and HR leaders as a trusted advisor to design practical, people-centered solutions that improve engagement, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and align workforce strategy with long-term business objectives. Stratis Consulting supports organizations navigating M&A activities and major changes in the company to ensure effective practice and implementation of workforce strategies. “At Stratis, we believe that people strategy enabled by successful employment relations is business strategy,” said Brendan McGinty, managing partner of Stratis Consulting. “Our goal is to help organizations recognize the value of s

ECU Worldwide Unveils XLERATE 2.0 Expansion to Bypass Asia–Europe Supply Chain Disruptions25.3.2026 15:30:00 EET | Press release

ECU Worldwide, Allcargo Globals’ wholly-owned global subsidiary, has announced a strategic expansion of its transformative logistics solution, XLERATE 2.0, to provide a high-speed and resilient alternative to Asia-to-Europe trade lanes facing transit disruptions. Under this alternative routing, cargo is transported across the Pacific to the US West Coast, using Los Angeles (LAX) as a temporary hub. The solution leverages XLERATE 2.0’s premium, time-definite ocean services, ensuring greater transit agility and continuity. XLERATE 2.0 offers two distinct shipping solutions from China and Vietnam, providing shippers with flexibility as traditional trade arteries remain impacted by shifts in global logistics. These changes have led to reduced overall capacity and the disruption of standard sea–air services via conventional transit points. Commenting on the rollout, Simon Bajada, Regional CEO, Europe, ECU Worldwide, said “With the expansion of XLERATE 2.0, we are offering our customers a de

Incyte Announces Executive Leadership Appointments25.3.2026 15:00:00 EET | Press release

Incyte (NASDAQ:INCY) today announced appointments among its executive leadership team to support the Company’s strategic focus and long-term growth plans. Pablo J. Cagnoni, M.D., has been appointed President, Incyte and Global Head of Research and Development. In this role, Dr. Cagnoni will retain responsibility for Research and Development, while also supporting enterprise-wide strategic planning and operational execution. Under Dr. Cagnoni’s scientific leadership, Incyte’s R&D progress has been notable, including advancing our mutCALR antibody, povorcitinib, CDK2, KRASG12D and TGFßR2xPD1 programs. Dr. Cagnoni has also continued to strengthen the way Incyte conducts R&D, introducing a new structure, processes and new technologies to improve productivity and keep Incyte competitive. Steven Stein, M.D., has been appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Late-stage Development. In this role, Dr. Stein will continue to oversee Incyte’s extensive and growing lat

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye