LG files to ban sales of BMW, Audi cars here

Two LG affiliates have filed a lawsuit to ban BWM and Audi’s local branches from selling cars fitted with Osram-made headlamps as part of their ongoing patent battle with the lightmaker, LG Electronics said on Wednesday.

LG Electronics and LG Innotek said they are together seeking the sales injunction in the Seoul courts to send a message to Osram, which supplies light emitting diode package headlamps to carmakers BMW and Audi.

LG claims that Osram, a Siemens light bulb-making unit, has infringed seven patents related to LED chip technology and packaging.

“As companies with due respect for intellectual property, LG Electronics and LG Innotek have decided to expand the lawsuit as Osram’s acts of patent infringement are grave in nature and are seen to be damaging to the local LED industry as a whole,” said Lee Jung-hwan, vice president of LG Electronics’ patent center.

The electronics company also said it is pursuing similar lawsuits to ban car sales in other countries such as the U.S. and China.

Regarding its latest legal action, LG Electronics stressed that the dispute will inevitably be prolonged unless Osram makes an effort for a resolution.

“We will continue to pursue stringent measures to put a stop to the infringement of intellectual property,” Lee said.

BMW declined to comment, saying it was checking the facts related to the injunction.

LG and Osram have been battling in the courts at both home and overseas ever since Osram in June accused LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics of infringing patent rights for LED technology.

Osram filed complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission, a U.S. district court and a German court.

LG Electronics and LG Innotek, in a tit-for-tat move, immediately lodged counter-lawsuits against Osram at a Seoul court.

The two affiliates sought cash compensation and a court order to block the German company from using its LED patents.

In addition, LG Electronics and LG Innotek have requested the Korean Trade Commission to investigate seven cases involving LED lighting and LED chip and packaging technologies used in vehicles.

This particular commission is authorized to impose import bans on products found to violate patents.

Samsung LED is also deadlocked in a legal dispute with Osram over LED patents, with the two entangled in a similar tug-of-war.

As top players in the light emitting diode industry, LG Electronics and LG Innotek currently hold a combined 4,000 or so of patents related to LED technology.

Osram is the world’s No. 2 lighting company following Philips.

By Kim Ji-hyun (jemmie@heraldcorp.com)