Samsung Display, China’s BOE settle OLED patent and trade secret lawsuits

Samsung Display has announced an agreement with China's BOE Technology to resolve ongoing patent disputes related to OLED technology. This development marks a significant step forward for both companies, who recognize that fair competition is crucial for the growth of the display sector. According to a spokesperson for Samsung Display, the two firms will withdraw all lawsuits currently in progress. While there are reports suggesting that BOE may owe patent royalties to Samsung as part of the settlement, Samsung has chosen not to comment on this aspect. BOE has not provided a response to inquiries regarding the settlement. The resolution concludes a lengthy three-year legal battle that began when Samsung filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in December 2022. Samsung accused BOE of infringing on its OLED patents, followed by another case in October 2023, which alleged that BOE engaged in theft of trade secrets by hiring former Samsung employees to gain access to confidential manufacturing techniques. In March 2025, the ITC ruled in favor of Samsung, stating that BOE had violated three of its OLED patents. Additionally, a preliminary ruling in July indicated that BOE had misappropriated Samsung's trade secrets, leading to a recommendation for a ban on BOE's exports of OLED panels to the U.S. for almost 15 years. The recent settlement suggests that both companies have approached the ITC to request an end to the investigation. This agreement comes at a time when major technology firms are striving to lessen their dependence on Chinese manufacturers for essential components. A potential U.S. export ban would have posed significant challenges for BOE, one of the leading suppliers of LCD and OLED panels globally, trailing only Samsung and LG. The case has highlighted increasing concerns about intellectual property theft, a sentiment echoed by a recent South Korean court's sentencing of a former Samsung engineer to six years in prison for leaking OLED technology valued at approximately $24.5 million to China. Furthermore, South Korean authorities have recently launched an investigation into two LG Display employees suspected of leaking proprietary technologies to a Chinese entity.