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LG Chem and SFC Both Appeal in Blue OLED Patent Dispute
Policy4 min read
LG Chem and SFC have both appealed the first-court ruling in a patent fight over blue OLED technology. The first court said SFC must pay LG Chem 8 billion won in damages.
Both sides file appeals
LG Chem and SFC both asked a higher court to review the first ruling in their blue OLED patent case. SFC filed its appeal on September 22, and LG Chem filed on October 8. The appeal case was received by the Patent Court on October 30. The first court had partly sided with LG Chem and ordered SFC to pay 8 billion won in damages for patent infringement.
Key numbers
- Damages ordered in first ruling: 8 billion won (SFC pays LG Chem)
- LG Chem's original damages claim: 33.9 billion won
- In the appeal, LG Chem's claim is 25.9 billion won; SFC's claim is 8.1 billion won
- SFC's 2025 operating profit: 21.7 billion won
- SFC plans to sell 5 million shares; expected offering price range is 31,600 to 36,100 won per share
What the patent is about
The disputed patent is LG Chem's 'Deuterated compounds for electronic applications' (Patent No. 1427457). It covers deuterated aryl-anthracene compounds. These are chemicals used in OLED screens to improve light-emitting efficiency and lifespan. The Supreme Court ruled in May that the patent is valid. But LG Chem narrowed the patent's scope in October 2023, during an invalidity dispute, so its legal reach is smaller. LG Chem sued SFC in December 2024.
Why it matters
SFC says the case could cost it more money. Its filing said that the 8 billion won award equals about 37% of its 2025 operating profit. It also said LG Chem's full claim of 33.9 billion won is larger than that profit. SFC argues the products in the case are old models being phased out, so the effect on future business should be small. It also says LG Chem did not actually sell products using the patent, so the two firms were not直接 competitors. The court reopened hearings and asked LG Chem for more proof of real losses.
What to watch
- How the Patent Court handles the appeal, including whether LG Chem can prove real losses
- Whether the damage amount rises or falls on appeal
- SFC's listing on the KOSPI stock market, with retail subscriptions on October 18 to 19 (employee subscriptions on the 18th)
- Who owns SFC: Japan's Hodogaya holds 52.96%, and Samsung Display's fund holds 29.56%
Glossary
- OLED
- Organic light-emitting diode; a thin screen technology where each pixel makes its own light.
- SFC
- A Korean maker of OLED materials; it is the company being sued and is planning a KOSPI listing.
- LG Chem
- A large Korean chemical company that owns the patent and sued SFC for infringement.
- Deuterated compounds
- Chemicals in which some hydrogen atoms are replaced with a heavier form called deuterium, to make devices last longer.
- Patent Court
- The Korean court that hears appeals in patent cases.
- KOSPI
- The main stock market in South Korea where large companies are listed.