Nichia Corp. of Japan announced that it has filed a new complaint in its multinational patent infringement dispute against Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd.of Taiwan. In an amended complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on November 22, Nichia accuses Everlight, Everlight’s subsidiaries Everlight Americas, Inc. (“Everlight Americas”) and Zenaro Lighting, Inc. (“Zenaro”), and Zenaro’s distributor Zitroz LLC of infringing four Nichia patents regarding light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”).  

Nichia and Everlight are currently involved in patent disputes in several countries, including the United States, Japan, and Germany. 

Nichia filed its original complaint in Texas on September 11, 2013, accusing Everlight and Everlight Americas of infringing Nichia’s U.S. Patent No. 7,432,589. Nichia’s new complaint accuses Everlight and Everlight Americas of also infringing Nichia’s U.S. Patents No. 7,462,870 and No. 7,521,863. Nichia accuses Everlight, Everlight Americas, Zenaro, and Zitroz of infringing U.S. Patent No. 8,530,250.   

Nichia developed the key technologies used to make white LEDs, is the world’s leading manufacturer of LEDs, and for decades has been a leader in LED and laser diode technology.   

With respect to the multinational patent infringement litigation regarding Everlight, Mr. Katsuyuki Akutagawa, Nichia’s Chief Legal and IP Officer, issued the following statement:  “Nichia seeks to protect its patents and other intellectual property rights, and takes action against infringers in any country where appropriate and necessary.”

The Texas lawsuit is styled Nichia Corporation, et al. v. Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., No. 2:13-cv-703, and is pending before District Judge J. Rodney Gilstrap and Magistrate Judge Roy M. Payne.  

Nichia is represented in the lawsuit by Robert P. Parker, Martin M. Zoltick, Michael Jones, and Chen Li of Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C., Washington, D.C., and Collin Maloney of Ireland, Carroll & Kelley, P.C., Tyler, Texas.   

For more information in Japan, contact Public Relations, Nichia Corporation at +81-884-22-2311. In the United States contact Robert P, Parker at +202-783-6040.