Samsung Wins Big in OLED Trade Secrets Battle

Login to Continue Learning

[Ad_1]

Samsung Display secured a major legal victory against China’s BOE Technology Group after the latter was found guilty of stealing Samsung’s OLED technology. The case has been ongoing since 2023, when Samsung took it to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), claiming that BOE imported OLED products using Samsung’s proprietary trade secrets. On July 11, 2025, the ITC determined that BOE and its U.S. subsidiaries had indeed infringed on Samsung’s patents by employing former employees and leveraging confidential information to develop OLED panels for their own products.

Samsung vs. BOE: A Landmark OLED Trade Secrets Case

This decision has significant implications for the Chinese display manufacturer. The ITC has banned BOE’s OLED products from entering the U.S. market for 15 years, a major blow to the company. This legal win also has broader significance for the global OLED industry, as Samsung stands to gain the most from this setback. In Q1 of 2025, Samsung supplied approximately 49 percent of iPhone OLED panels, with LG in second place. With BOE barred from the market for a long period, Samsung and LG have an opportunity to reinforce their positions and take on the supply of high-end OLED panels for flagship devices like the iPhone.

The case highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property in the high-tech sector, especially when it comes to technologies like OLED. By enforcing IP rights, companies can continue innovating without the threat of technology theft. This ruling also sends a strong message to international firms about the serious consequences of infringing on intellectual property.

In a unique start to his ruling against President Donald Trump’s administration on September 30, U.S. District Court Judge William Young included a scanned handwritten note sent to his office. The note read: “Trump has pardons and tanks – what do you have?” At the top of Young’s opinion in AAUP v. Rubio, which ruled that Trump’s effort to deport foreign-born student protesters was unconstitutional.

October 8, 2025

However, this decision could intensify tensions between the U.S. and Chinese tech industries, as BOE is one of the fastest-growing display manufacturers. Restricting its access to a major market like the U.S. could have a ripple effect. Nonetheless, the ruling works in Samsung’s favor by allowing the company to establish its leadership in the OLED market firmly and send a clear message about the legal repercussions of any infringements.

[Ad_2]