Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. (CMO), Taiwan“s number two maker of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, has signed an agreement with Guardian Industries Corp. of the United St…
Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. (CMO), Taiwan“s number two maker of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, has signed an agreement with Guardian Industries Corp. of the United States to obtain technical authorization for retardation film technology. In March 2005, Guardian filed a lawsuit against CMO for alleged infringement of its technology patents. CMO immediately began negotiations which culminated in it becoming the first company in Taiwan to obtain technical authorization from Guardian. CMO said that the accord would allow CMO to use all of Guardian“s patented retardation film-related technologies, which are mainly compensation film-related key techniques in wide view-angle (WVA) applications. Guardian, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, is a leading manufacturer of float glass and fabricated glass products for the commercial and residential construction industries. The group acquired Optical Imaging Systems in 2001, thereby obtaining the intellectual property for advanced retardation film technologies. In 2003 it accused several companies in Japan and South Korea including Sharp, Sanyo, Tottori, Mitsubishi, NEC and Samsung of patent infringement. All have since reached settlements with Guardian and obtained authorization. In January 2005, Guardian sued another group of computer, home-appliance, TFT-LCD panel and system-integration manufacturers for patent infringement, including Dell, Gateway, HP, Acer, AOC, TPV, BenQ, Lite-On, Proview, AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd. (CPT), Quanta, Tatung, and Delta Electronic Inc. In late March 2005, Guardian targeted CMO and another Taiwan panel maker, HannStar Display Corporation.