Nichia and ams OSRAM Sign Broad Patent Cross-License Agreement

Nichia and ams OSRAM have expanded their long-standing collaboration in the field of intellectual property (IP). Hiroyoshi Ogawa, President of Nichia Corporation, and Aldo Kamper, CEO of ams-OSRAM AG, signed a comprehensive cross-license agreement covering thousands of patent-protected innovations in LED and laser technologies. 

The agreement grants both companies mutual access to each other’s patents for nitride LED and laser components and, for the first time, also covers sophisticated LED packages and LED modules, such as matrix headlamps. The move aims to strengthen the industry- leading IP protection both companies offer to their customers.   

Nichia and ams OSRAM have invested heavily in R&D over decades. With the new patent cross license agreement, they offer customers enhanced IP safety when using products based on their patented technologies. Both companies have a long history of cross license agreements, which started in 2002 and continued through today, with an update in 2010. The new agreement covers R&D results from the last 15 years.