News & Press Releases
OLED Patent Dispute: Dresden-based Novaled Prevails Over Solus – All Three Patents Declared Invalid
In the patent conflict between Dresden-based Novaled, a subsidiary of the Samsung Group, and South Korean materials supplier Solus Advanced Materials, a final ruling has been issued. Following the decisions in March 2025 invalidating two patents, the South Korean High Court has now also declared the third and final Solus patent invalid.
Background of the Case
The dispute began in 2022, when Solus accused Novaled of infringing its patent rights with certain materials used in the QD-OLED stack of Samsung Display. During discussions between the two companies, Solus asserted extensive claims, which Novaled rejected. Novaled subsequently filed invalidation actions against three Solus patents with the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
In 2023, the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board declared all three patents invalid at first instance. Solus then appealed to the High Court.
High Court Decisions
This year, the South Korean Patent Court (High Court) delivered its final rulings:
• March 2025: Patents KR2282799 and KR2344831, relating to electron transport layer (ETL) technologies in QD-OLED panels, were declared invalid. Solus did not pursue further appeal, making these rulings final.
• June 2025: The third patent, KR2216993, concerning organic electronic emission devices, was also declared invalid by the High Court.
All three Solus patents challenged in South Korea are thus rendered void.
Significance for Novaled
The complete invalidation of all three Solus patents is not only a major legal success but also underscores Novaled’s competence and strength in developing ETL materials.
About Novaled
Novaled GmbH is a research and development company and a leading global supplier of specialized chemicals for use in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Novaled’s products can be found in nearly all AMOLED displays, including smartphones, tablets, TVs, and smartwatches. The company’s majority shareholder is Samsung SDI.
15/08/2025