[International IP Briefing] US, INTA

US

U.S. International Trade Commission Recognizes Samsung Display’s Patent Infringement Claims Against China’s BOE

 On March 19, 2025, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) acknowledged that some of patents held by Samsung Display Co., Ltd. were infringed in its final determination regarding a patent infringement case filed against China’s BOE (Beijing Dongfang Electronics).

(Background) 

On February 3, 2023, the ITC initiated an investigation pursuant to Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act based on a complaint filed by Samsung Display. The complaint alleged that certain active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display panels and modules for mobile devices, along with their components, were being imported and sold in the U.S., thereby infringing Samsung Display’s U.S. patents.

(Key Details)

In its Final Determination, the ITC affirmed the findings of the Initial Determination (ID), which had concluded that Samsung Display’s patents had been infringed.

However, the Commission did not impose an import ban because the so-called "domestic industry" requirement—a necessary condition for remedies under Section 337—was not satisfied.

(1) Patent Infringement Investigations Conducted by the Quasi-Judicial ITC

∙ If a product imported into the United States is believed to infringe a U.S.-registered patent, the patent holder may file a patent infringement complaint with the ITC, a quasi-judicial federal agency with independence under the executive branch.

∙ Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act authorizes the ITC to investigate intellectual property rights violations, including patent infringement, and to issue exclusion orders (preventing the importation of infringing products) or cease and desist orders (prohibiting sales and distribution within the U.S.).

(2) Administrative Law Judge’s Initial Determination (ID) Found Infringement of Samsung Display’s Patent

On November 15, 2024, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued the Initial Determination (ID), finding that at least one of the accused products infringed certain claims of Samsung Display’s U.S. Patent No. 9,818,803.

On November 29, 2024, Samsung Display petitioned the ITC for a review of the Initial Determination.

(3) Final Determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission

∙ On March 19, 2025, after reviewing the ALJ’s Initial Determination, the ITC concluded the investigation with a Final Determination confirming the infringement of Samsung Display’s patent.

∙ However, the Commission did not issue an import ban because the “domestic industry” requirement under Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act was not met.

(4) Appeals Process Following the ITC’s Final Determination

∙ When the ITC issues a Final Determination of a Section 337 violation, it is published in the Federal Register and subject to presidential review.

∙ A party adversely affected by the ITC’s Final Determination may appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) within 60 days of the decision. If the Final Determination favors the complainant, the respondent may also appeal to the CAFC within 60 days following the presidential review period.

∙ In this case, since the determination was not favorable to the complainant, an appeal may be filed with the CAFC within 60 days of the Final Determination.

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INTA (International Trademark Association)

International Trademark Association Issues Statement on Deep Fakes (Digital Replicas)

∙ On February 26, 2025, the Board of Directors of the International Trademark Association (INTA) adopted a resolution titled Legislation on Deep Fakes (Digital Replicas) and issued its position on the matter.

(Key Points) 

INTA expressed its views to assist policymakers in addressing issues arising from digital replicas and deep fakes, and in drafting legislation aimed at strengthening intellectual property rights and consumer protection.

(1) Overview

∙ With recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), tools that allow for the unauthorized reproduction of individuals’ names, images, and likenesses—commonly referred to as "deep fakes"—have become increasingly accessible.

∙ Deep fakes and AI-driven technologies can cause significant, and often irreparable, harm to individuals’ names, voices, and likenesses. These damages may not be adequately remedied through monetary compensation.

∙ In the United States, Congress has been actively considering various legislative proposals aimed at addressing specific issues arising from the use of AI in connection with images, voices, and likenesses.²

(2) INTA’s Key Opinions

∙ INTA does not support any specific legislation regarding deep fakes but aims to outline policy principles that enable collaboration with lawmakers.

∙ INTA supports enacting legal protections against harm caused by the commercial use of digital replicas where such use is likely to cause confusion, deception, or misrepresentation about the nature, origin, or endorsement of a product, service, or commercial activity.

∙ INTA endorses legal mechanisms such as a rebuttable presumption or procedural tools to help facilitate actions against unauthorized digital replicas.

∙ The association supports the implementation of a notice and takedown framework for addressing infringements caused by deep fakes and the creation of safe harbor provisions for online service providers.

∙ Service providers who receive notifications of alleged infringement involving digital replicas should act promptly to restrict or block access to the infringing material to the extent technically and practically possible. However, such measures must also respect rights such as freedom of expression and fair use.

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1) The full text of the resolution is available at https://www.inta.org/wp-content/uploads/public-files/advocacy/board-resolutions/20250226_INTA-Board-Resolution-Legislation-On-Deep-Fakes-Digital-Replicas.pdf 

2) Examples of legislative efforts include:

·         The Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act proposed in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives,

·         The No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas and Unauthorized Duplications Act proposed in the House,

·         And the Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act, also proposed in the House.

 

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The most essential and critical patent work, family and citations review all in one place!

 

 In the process of researching and analyzing patented technologies, examining patent family & citation documents plays a crucial role. This task goes beyond simple information gathering, serving as a key method for comprehensively understanding the international scope of rights, technological development trends, and the competitive landscape.

 A patent family refers to a group of patent documents filed in multiple countries based on the same invention. By analyzing these documents, one can identify the patent holder’s global IP protection strategy. Applicants typically select target countries strategically, reflecting their intended market entry plans and the perceived importance of the invention. Differences in claim scope or filing timelines between patent families can reveal how the technology has evolved or how the applicant tailored their rights for each jurisdiction. Therefore, analyzing patent families plays a vital role in identifying potential IP conflicts in target markets and understanding a company's international patent strategy.

 On the other hand, citation document analysis involves reviewing prior patents cited by a particular patent (backward citations) and subsequent patents that cite it (forward citations). This allows researchers to track how a specific technology has been built upon existing inventions and how it has contributed to later developments. Frequently cited patents often indicate core technologies in the field, and the entities citing them are likely to be active competitors. As such, citation analysis serves as a foundation for evaluating technological significance, competitor activity, and potential invalidity risks.

 At WIPS Global, we have newly launched a feature that enables users to review family and citation documents together in one place, allowing for more effective execution of this critical task. Let’s take a closer look at what this feature offers.

wipsglobal.com> View Details

The "Family & Citation" feature can be accessed through the "View Details".

wipsglobal.com> Family analysis> Family & Citation

 In the Family Analysis, information is provided through various tabs to support analysis from multiple perspectives. A new "Family & Citation" tab has been added. The user interface has been improved to allow users to list and compare both family and citation documents. Additionally, a citation analysis feature has been integrated into the family analysis module, enabling users to view all citations across the entire global patent family.

wipsglobal.com> Family analysis> Family & Citation

 When you select a specific document from the family list on the left, the system displays its first-depth backward citations in a list format. You can also use the list view options to review the cited documents alongside their drawings.

wipsglobal.com> Invalidation Advisor

 Both family and citation documents can also be reviewed within the Citation Matrix of the Invalidation Advisor tool.

wipsglobal.com> Invalidation Advisor> Citation Matrix

 Previously, the Invalidation Advisor supported only four countries (US, EP, JP, KR). However, with the new family analysis feature, citation document analysis is now available for all countries.

In the Citation Matrix, you can view the citation documents and family documents of a searched patent in a matrix structure. Clicking on any citation or family document will dynamically highlight the interrelationships, allowing for easy and intuitive review.

 

We’ve now explored the newly released Family & Citation feature offered by WIPS Global.

 Patent family documents represent the global spread and strategic scope of a technology, while citation documents reflect the context and evolution of that technology. Reviewing both types of documents is not a peripheral task—it is a core foundational step in patent analysis and IP strategy development. By examining both, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the international expansion of technologies, competitor IP strategies, and the direction of technological evolution. This forms a critical basis for decision-making in R&D, product development, IP litigation, and beyond.

 This kind of essential and strategic task—reviewing family & citation documents—starts now with WIPS Global. Try it today!

 

 

"Now Even Kimchi is Made with Technology" – The Popularization of Kimchi Driven by Innovation

 

Today, Korean kimchi is a representative "K-food" widely sought after even overseas. It has become an everyday side dish easily found in supermarkets, making it more popular than ever before. Today, let's explore the patented technology that smartly facilitates the mass production of kimchi.

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The Foundation of Kimchi Making: Cabbage Salting

What is the most important step in making kimchi? It would be salting the cabbage. In kimchi making, salted cabbage is usually used. In the past, our mothers would painstakingly salt the cabbage by hand. But now, thanks to technology, large quantities of cabbage can be easily salted using machines.

Let's take a look at the technology and equipment.

This device is a cabbage salting machine that consists of a unit for washing the cabbage and a unit for supplying water, allowing for the efficient washing of large quantities of cabbage. When salting cabbage, the key is to salt it evenly with brine of a specific salinity. This technology maintains the brine concentration evenly and optimizes the tank's temperature to ensure efficient salting without any loss of effectiveness.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2021-0090410, Discharge pickling device

The company, Daesang, known for its "Jongga Kimchi," has developed a device that quickly salts cabbage using vacuum technology. The distinctive feature of this technology is vacuum pressure. By injecting vacuum inside a sealed salting device, it expels air trapped between the cabbage leaves and allows brine to enter evenly between them, thus salting the cabbage quickly and evenly.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2023-0191262,
Apparatus for rapid salting korean cabbage using vacuum and its method

The Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI) has developed a technology for spraying salt onto the cabbage during the salting process. The most crucial aspect of salting cabbage is ensuring the salt is evenly distributed. Manually salting the cabbage often leads to uneven salt distribution. This technology and device minimize salt usage and time, while maintaining consistent quality, maximizing the efficiency of kimchi production.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0140054,
Salt spray type kimchi pickling apparatus and salt spray type kimchi pickling method performed thereby

Time to Fill the Kimchi with Its Filling

Once the cabbage is salted, it's time to fill it with the kimchi paste made from various seasonings. The filling usually contains ingredients like chili powder, minced garlic, green onions, fermented shrimp, and other local specialties depending on the region. However, when making kimchi in large quantities, it's challenging to evenly distribute the various seasonings and fillings.

Kimchi filling
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To address this, a device for evenly filling the kimchi with its paste has been developed. The technology previously introduced by KFRI evenly injects brine between cabbage leaves, while this new device automatically and evenly distributes the kimchi filling between the cabbage leaves. This device includes a seasoning supply port, a cabbage supply port, and a mixing unit to ensure that fermented fish, seasonings, and spices are accurately and evenly distributed between the cabbage leaves.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2020-0061364, Kimchi sauce stuffing device

Daesang has developed not only a cabbage salting device but also a system for automatically supplying seasonings to the kimchi. This system is designed to release seasoned liquids, including chopped vegetables and solid ingredients, evenly on the cabbage. It uses a rail system with seasoning containers placed at regular intervals, ensuring that the right amount of seasoning is applied to each cabbage.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0015070, Automatic seasoning supply system comprising solids

CJ CheilJedang, famous for "Bibigo Kimchi," has also developed a kimchi filling device. Unlike Daesang, CJ CheilJedang uses a "dumping lifter," a basket-like unit, to conveniently supply seasonings to the cabbage. By using this unit, they significantly reduce labor costs and processing time.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2020-0126108, A device for filling kimchi seasoning into Korean cabbages

The Popularization of Kimchi through Technological Advancement

Today, we explored the technology behind smart kimchi making. We can see that advancements in technology and equipment are contributing to the popularization and mass production of kimchi. As a representative fermented food, kimchi also embodies the principles of science, making it an ongoing subject of research. We hope that with continued technological advancements, kimchi will become a food that everybody can enjoy all over the world.

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Forest Fire Prevention and Patents

 

Recently, a massive forest fire occurred in Korea, resulting in significant casualties. A major wildfire also broke out in Los Angeles, USA, this past January. Such large-scale forest fires are not unique to the United States or Korea. In this article, we will explore various technologies and devices aimed at preventing forest fires.

Forest fire in Yeongdeok
(source: Yonhap news)

Priority in Forest Fire Prevention: Monitoring

The biggest challenge in forest fires is the difficulty in accurately identifying the ignition point and its cause. Therefore, more precise and comprehensive forest fire monitoring is essential. So, what technologies and patents can help monitor forest fires?

First, the most basic method is a forest fire monitoring system using thermal sensors and CCTV. This invention uses thermal imaging cameras to detect smoke from a forest fire through video analysis, enabling early monitoring and detection from a long distance when a fire occurs.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2023-0064787
Forest fire notification system using CCTV equipped with thermal sensor

Next, there is a system using LiDAR for forest fire monitoring. LiDAR technology emits laser beams and analyzes the reflected light from objects to detect and measure them. The atmospheric LiDAR used in this system can detect light that changes direction due to smoke particles scattered by a forest fire, which helps determine the occurrence of a fire.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2023-0007219, Apparatus and method for forest fire monitoring using lidar

There is also a technology that can automatically detect forest fires using data measured from GPS and satellites. This method considers the temporal and spatial characteristics of the data measured by satellites, allowing automatic detection of forest fires. The occurrence of a fire can be verified through satellite images that reflect brightness and temperature transmitted to data processing devices.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2023-0072359, Method and apparatus for detecting forest fire

Lastly, drones are used for fire monitoring. This method is particularly applied for monitoring and suppressing remaining embers rather than extinguishing large-scale forest fires. Drones equipped with thermal cameras, fire-extinguishing pellets, and wireless communication modules can identify embers at the fire site and extinguish them effectively by dropping fire-extinguishing pellets on the location.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0189211,
Drone for wildfire monitoring and suppression and controlling method thereof

Quick Suppression if a Forest Fire Occurs!

If the above methods fail to prevent a forest fire, quick suppression is necessary. Due to the mountainous terrain, wildfires can spread rapidly and extensively in a very short period. How can these fires be suppressed?

The most common method is aerial firefighting using firefighting helicopters. These helicopters transport tanks filled with fire retardants to the fire site and spray the retardant at a high pressure to suppress the fire. Their powerful performance enables fast and widespread fire suppression.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0053493, Apparatus for midair extinguishing using firefighting helicopter

The following is a technology and device that installs water tanks and sprinklers on mountains to extinguish forest fires more quickly and effectively. It can be applied especially to areas where fire helicopters are difficult to access. Here's how it works. It installs a large-capacity water tank on top of a mountain and sprinklers that spray water along the mountain's perimeter, and when a forest fire occurs, it remotely sprays water using a hose that can be controlled remotely.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0082455, Forest fire extinguishing system

There is also the use of robots for fire suppression. This invention is a multi-legged walking robot designed to spray firefighting water and suppress forest fires at the fire site.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2023-0023764, Multi-legged walking robot for fire suppression

Reducing the Damage Caused by Forest Fires

With dry and windy weather, the damage from forest fires continues to increase. We hope that the above methods will help suppress wildfires and that we can return to a safe daily life soon.

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Family Diagram, check the patent family's relationship at a glance

  When applying to multiple countries based on a domestic application (original application), all patents and applications related to the original application are called patent family. It refers to all literature created by the first patent application filed at the patent office and the same patent application filed within the priority period at the patent office of another country. For companies, global strategies can be predicted by whether or not domestic patents are applied for in other countries. Since it is important to secure patent rights to conduct business in overseas markets, looking at the trends of patent family applications for companies can help predict which countries they will be active in.

The importance of patent family analysis can be summarized as follows:

. Identifying Technology Trends: By analyzing patent families, organizations can track the direction of technological advancements and identify key trends in specific industries. If multiple countries file patents for the same technology, it indicates that the technology is developing and gaining importance in that field.

. Competitive Analysis: Patent family analysis allows companies to assess the patenting patterns of competitors, providing insights into their R&D strategies, technological capabilities, and market focus. This helps organizations identify areas where they can achieve a competitive advantage.

. Market Entry Strategy: When a particular technology is protected by patents in multiple countries, it signals that the technology is likely to be valuable in those markets. This information can help companies develop market entry strategies or prioritize certain countries for patent filings.

. Patent Portfolio Management: Analyzing patent families helps companies evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their patent portfolios. By identifying valuable patents or redundant filings, businesses can make strategic decisions, such as acquiring additional patents or abandoning less relevant ones.

. Preventing Patent Disputes: Through patent family analysis, companies can identify whether a technology is already protected by patents in other regions or if competitors hold patents in key markets. This can help prevent costly patent litigation and conflicts by ensuring freedom to operate.

. Increasing R&D Efficiency: Patent family analysis helps avoid unnecessary duplication in research and development by identifying existing patents in other countries. This enables organizations to focus their efforts on innovative areas where protection is not already in place, improving overall R&D efficiency.

For these reasons, patent family analysis is a valuable tool for technology strategy, enhancing competitiveness, legal protection, and overall decision-making in the innovation process.

  WIPS Global has newly launched the ‘Family Diagram’ feature that allows quick and efficient review of patent family. In order to conveniently view the relationships between complex patent families, we provide a map-typed diagram that divides the relationships between documents into generations without restrictions on years or countries.

wipsglobal.com> Family analysis

You can see the overall structure at a glance by diagramming the family relationship in a map format. The picture above is a horizontally expanded relationship diagram in simple mode.

wipsglobal.com> Family analysis

The two screens above are relationship diagrams that can be viewed by year. They are provided based on the filing year of the family document. If one application has entered multiple countries, we recommend viewing it in a horizontal mode, and if one application continues to be divided, continued, or partially continued, we recommend viewing it in a vertical mode.

wipsglobal.com> Family analysis

If you select the ‘Details’ mode, you can examine the important items of the document in more detail. You can check information such as status, date, and number of claims. You can freely move the location of the document box.

wipsglobal.com> Family analysis

This is a case where there are many documents and the relationship types are diverse and complex. The colors are distinguished by relationship type, so you can intuitively understand what kind of relationship is formed by document. Eight types are provided, and only the types that exist in the family relationship are activated and displayed.

* 8 types - Provisional, priority, international application, division, continuation, continuation in part, re-issue, etc.

wipsglobal.com> Family analysis

When you select a specific document, the connection line showing the relationship between patents is highlighted, making it really convenient to review.

wipsglobal.com> Family analysis

If you need to review the contents of the patent document in detail, click the document box. The list of documents you clicked will be displayed on the right. Clicking on the patent number in the document list will link to the ‘View Details’. In addition, the document list can be linked to Easy Viewer, My Folder, Smart Angle, etc. to review or analyze.

So far, we have looked at the Family Diagram newly provided by WIPS Global. It is a really convenient feature that allows you to review complexly intertwined family relationships at a glance. Be sure to use it for family analysis.

 

The advent of the full-fledged ‘Humanoid era’ and patents as seen through CES2025

 ‘CES 2025’, where cutting-edge technologies are being competed against each other, was recently held in Las Vegas, USA. CES is the world’s largest consumer electronics exhibition that showcases not only already commercialized technologies and products, but also technologies that foresee the future. This year, it was held on the largest scale ever, with over 4,500 companies, organizations, and groups participating. In particular, robots and humanoid technologies, which are the pinnacle of AI technology, are said to have attracted the most attention this year. In this issue, we will learn about humanoid technologies presented by leading global companies and the patents contained within them.

Humanoid 'Aura' on display at CES2025
<source: etnews, https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/030/00032752>

‘AI Godfather’ Jensen Huang declares the era of full-fledged humanoids

  Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, a figure shaking up the IT industry, appeared as a keynote speaker at CES2025. In his keynote speech, he announced a plan for ‘Physical AI’ represented by robots and autonomous driving. He also introduced humanoid robots currently being produced by partners and predicted the arrival of a full-fledged humanoid era.

Jensen Huang giving a keynote speech at CES2025
<source: fnnews.com>

Tesla’s ‘Optimus’

  Tesla, which has influence beyond the electric car market to other areas, has also set its sights on the humanoid market. Tesla's humanoid called 'Optimus' has gone through several advancements and modeling since its first public release in 21 years and is now almost complete. Elon Musk announced that Optimus will be sold worldwide starting this year, starting in the United States.

(left) Tesla's humanoid Optimus
(right) Optimus folding clothes with sophisticated hand movements

  Tesla's Optimus is equipped with all the actuators, sensors, and AI engines that Tesla designed with its own technology. The level of perfection of humanoid technology is determined by delicate hand movements and interactions, and Tesla is confident that Optimus has been implemented the most sophisticated and natural hand movements among existing humanoids.

What technology is Tesla's Optimus based on?

  This technology enables it to grasp various objects stably and naturally, just like a human hand. The joints connected by cables are operated by advanced actuators, allowing more flexible and safe hand movements.

wipsglobal.com
WO2024-073138 A1, 'Underactuated hand with cable-driven fingers'

  The following is the lower body technology of Optimus. It is a robotic knee joint system designed to stretch, walk, and move like human knees. Tesla's self-developed actuator is also utilized here, and it is said that each joint that constitutes the leg and knee is designed to be independent by the actuator and can walk and rotate in the desired direction.

wipsglobal.com
WO2024-073135 A1, 'Systems and methods for a robot knee joint assembly'

Home hub robot that takes charge of my house instead of me

  The robot with the fastest commercialization and fiercest competition in the AI ​​robot and humanoid field is the home hub robot. Although it does not have a human appearance like a humanoid, its functions have already reached the level of replacing humans.

  Samsung Electronics' 'Bally' is a ball-shaped AI robot that learns and evolves on its own, follows people around like their owners, controls home appliances and IoT devices, and interacts with children and pets.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0011742, 'Moving robot and control method thereof'

  LG Electronics' 'Q9' is an AI home hub robot that also controls home appliances and IoT devices and interacts with people. LG Electronics is said to have made a strategic partnership with Microsoft to further enhance Q9.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2023-0054228, 'Robot'

  Highly trained robots such as China's Unitree's 'G1' and TCL's 'Hey Amy' also attracted a lot of attention from visitors.

China's TCL's Hey Amy unveiled at CES2025
<source: News1>

Coexistence with humanoids that has become a reality

  Today, we learned about AI robots, humanoids, and patents that heated up CES2025. Previous AI robots and humanoids had a strong mechanical feel due to their somewhat slow response and limited functional implementation, but recently released robots are becoming truly ‘human’ in terms of their fast response, active interaction, and even appearance. As AI is being demanded and applied across all industries, robot technology is also developing rapidly. Let’s watch together to see how far humanoids and AI robots, which are becoming more and more human-like, will grow.

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