BU vs. Samsung Lawsuit

Plaintiff: Trustees of Boston University (BU)

Defendants: Samsung Electronics Company Limited, Samsung Electronics America Incorporated, Samsung LED Company Limited, Samsung Electro-Mechanics Company Limited and Samsung LED America Incorporated 

Case type: Patent Infringement 

Case number: 1:13-cv-10659

Court: Massachusetts District Court

Date filed: Mar 21, 2013

Patents-in-case:

• US5686738: “Highly Insulating Monocrystalline Gallium Nitride Thin Films” by Moustakas and assigned to Trustees of Boston University Issued on Nov 11, 1997 and expires[*] on Nov 11, 2014.
• US6953703: “Method of Making a Semiconductor Device with Exposure of Sapphire Substrate to Activated Nitrogen” by Moustakas and assigned[†] to Trustees of Boston University (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).  Issued on Oct 11, 2005 and expired*  on Mar 18, 2011.

As per complaint:

In this lawsuit, BU alleges that Samsung’s LED product with the part number SPHWWTHDD805WHT0GD includes a gallium nitride thin film semiconductor device claimed by the ’738 patent. In addition to this, it also alleges they are making semiconductor devices claimed by the ‘703 patent and thus infringe the said patents.

BU seeks an injunction prohibiting Samsung from manufacturing or marketing the components as well as compensation.

Other cases filed:

Some of the recent cases filed by BU are 

Defendant	Case Number	Status
Epistar Corporation	1:12-cv-12326	Pending
Lite-on	1:12-cv-12330	Pending
Seoul Semiconductor Company	1:12-cv-11938	Pending

If you are interested in knowing more about the case(s) filed, please contact us. To get alerts on cases filed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts. 

Has this patent been litigated? Use our free tool or download our free app on iTunes App Store or Google Play.

---

[*] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[†] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.