What to know
- The US International Trade Commission has ruled BOE violated Samsung Display’s OLED patents in its initial decision.
- The ITC has not approved Samsung’s request for a BOE display import ban to the US, finding “no impact on US industry”.
- A final decision will come in March 2025, and a potential import ban could affect OnePlus, Motorola, and Apple’s future products.’
The US International Trade Commission has backed Samsung Display in its patent fight against BOE, China’s leading display maker. According to The Elec (via 9To5Google), the initial ruling confirms BOE violated three Samsung OLED technology patents, while US importers and wholesalers broke four patents.
Samsung Display started this legal battle in December 2022 by filing against 17 US importers and wholesalers. BOE joined as a defendant three months later. Despite Samsung’s push to stop BOE displays from entering the US, the ITC has not agreed to this request yet.
A potential import ban would shake up the US phone market significantly. Many phone makers currently rely on BOE screens, including OnePlus for its top models, Motorola for its Razr phone, and some Google Pixel 8 devices. Apple has also discussed using BOE panels for its next iPhone SE 4.
This case shows the intense rivalry in screen manufacturing, where Samsung leads in high-end displays. BOE has grown by offering cheaper options, attracting manufacturers who want to keep prices down.
The ITC will make its final choice in March 2025. Samsung plans to challenge the current ruling that didn’t include an import ban. The outcome could reshape the smartphone display landscape in the US market.
