Lumileds and Nichia to Share LED Rights

SAN FRANCISCO and TOKYO, Oct. 30 -- Lumileds Lighting and Nichia Corp. have signed a broad cross-licensing agreement under which the two companies will share intellectual property rights to their respective light-emitting diode (LED) technologies.

The relationship will avert patent disputes and potential associated supply issues, the companies said, and will enable them to incorporate their R&D efforts in new product development.

"Legal battles over patents can have a chilling effect on market adoption of LED technology. This agreement will help customers by eliminating any doubts about intellectual property conflict between two of the industry's top technology leaders," said Mike Holt, CEO of Lumileds. "This, in turn, will help LEDs to more rapidly fulfill their potential of replacing conventional light sources in everyday lighting applications."

For more information, visit: www.lumileds.com or www.nichia.co.jp