Samsung Display and China’s BOE reached an OLED patent settlement, ending a yearslong legal dispute. The companies jointly filed a motion with the US International Trade Commission to terminate the investigation. This agreement follows a preliminary ITC ruling that could have blocked BOE from the US premium display market.
Industry sources indicate the deal includes BOE withdrawing all pending lawsuits and paying patent royalties to Samsung. Consequently, Samsung Display will secure a recurring revenue stream tied to BOE’s OLED panel sales. The settlement allows both companies to avoid prolonged and costly litigation.
The dispute began after Samsung Display filed complaints in December 2022 and October 2023, alleging patent infringement and trade-secret theft. The claims targeted Samsung’s OLED stack structure and pixel arrangement technologies. These components are critical for display brightness, efficiency, and lifespan. Meanwhile, BOE sought to expand its OLED supply to leading smartphone brands.
The timing of the settlement is crucial. In July, the ITC issued a preliminary ruling that would have barred BOE’s OLED panel imports for more than 14 years. Additionally, the ITC had planned to stop BOE’s China headquarters and subsidiaries from marketing or selling OLED panels in the United States. This could have effectively removed BOE from the US market.
Analysts say the settlement stabilizes the global OLED supply chain amid rising competition. Furthermore, it allows both companies to focus on innovation instead of legal battles.
Samsung Display CEO Yi Chung spoke to employees at a town hall, outlining five strategic priorities. These include foldables, IT OLED, QD-OLED, automotive displays, and OLEDoS for extended-reality devices. Yi noted that 2024 results benefited from strong smartphone demand, timely product launches, growing QD-OLED monitor sales, and expanding automotive display projects.
Yi emphasized, “We must reassess whether our product quality and manufacturing competitiveness truly meet customer expectations.” He urged employees to maintain focus on technology, customers, and flawless execution as rivals narrow the technology gap.
The OLED patent settlement protects Samsung Display’s intellectual property, secures revenue, and allows BOE to continue operating in the United States. Therefore, the agreement promises smoother competition and sustained innovation in the global OLED market.
