Tech News
Oluwapelumi debo
Samsung Display has scored a major victory in its long-running OLED patent and trade-secret dispute with Chinese display manufacturer BOE, with both companies agreeing to a settlement that includes BOE paying royalties to the Korean tech giant.
The breakthrough follows nearly three years of legal clashes across the United States, China, and several other jurisdictions. On November 18, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) announced that proceedings between the two firms had been suspended—an unexpected development, as the ITC had been scheduled to deliver a final ruling on November 17 in a major trade-secret case.
ITC Ruling Forced BOE to Settle
In July, the ITC issued a preliminary ruling that dealt a serious blow to BOE, imposing a 14-year, 8-month import ban on the company and its affiliates for allegedly misusing Samsung Display’s OLED trade secrets. Industry analysts said the ruling strongly favored Samsung, raising expectations that the final decision would uphold the ban.
Facing the possibility of being blocked from exporting key display components to the U.S.—one of the world’s largest electronics markets—BOE reportedly moved quickly to secure a settlement before the final ruling.
Although the exact terms of the agreement remain confidential, industry insiders confirm that BOE will now pay patent royalties to Samsung Display, ending years of contentious litigation.
A Clash of OLED Heavyweights
Samsung Display has been developing OLED technology since 1997, investing hundreds of millions of dollars into research, patents, and manufacturing innovations. BOE, meanwhile, entered the OLED race much later, beginning serious investment in 2013 and launching mass production in 2017.
However, BOE’s rapid rise drew intense scrutiny. The company has long been suspected of poaching Samsung Display engineers and working with subcontractors to obtain confidential technologies—allegations that formed the basis of Samsung’s lawsuits.
Samsung Display filed its first major complaint with the ITC in December 2022, targeting BOE and several U.S.-based distributors. By October 2023, Samsung escalated the fight, filing an additional suit over trade-secret theft.
A Landmark Win for Samsung—and a Warning to the Industry
The settlement is widely regarded as a significant win for Samsung Display, reaffirming its dominance in the premium OLED market and signaling that advanced display technologies remain tightly protected intellectual property.
It also sends a strong warning to global display manufacturers: attempts to shortcut OLED innovation through illicit methods will face severe consequences.
For now, both companies have withdrawn ongoing lawsuits, signaling a fragile truce—but one that clearly favors Samsung Display.
