A New Standard for Patent Search, WIPS Global

 

As we come to the close of another remarkable year, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation for your continued trust and partnership. Your feedback, insights, and encouragement have guided us throughout 2025, and they have played a meaningful role in shaping the future of WIPS Global.

This year marked an important milestone for us. In September 2025, WIPS Global took a significant step forward with an expanded coverage of 50 countries, enhanced precision in search accuracy, and a more intuitive user experience across the platform. Several core search functions were also refined, allowing us to deliver a faster, smarter, and more reliable patent-search environment for professionals around the world.

As we look ahead to a new year, our commitment remains unchanged. WIPS will continue to stand by you with dependable service, deeper insights, and technology that grows alongside your needs. We are dedicated to leading the future of intellectual property services—together with you.

Thank you sincerely for walking this journey with us. We hope you look forward to an even more intelligent and seamless WIPS Global in 2026.

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Patent Litigation Between Samsung Electronics/Seoul Semiconductor and U.S.-based LED Wafer Solutions

 The global electronics industry has once again entered the whirlwind of patent disputes. LED Wafer Solutions, a U.S.-based non-practicing entity (NPE), has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics and Seoul Semiconductor, claiming unauthorized use of its LED technology patents. This case is drawing attention not just as a typical patent dispute, but as a strategic battle among global corporations for leadership in next-generation LED technologies. Let’s take a closer look at how this lawsuit arose and what it means.

Overview and Key Background

 The lawsuit was filed on September 15, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The plaintiff alleges that Samsung Electronics and Seoul Semiconductor unlawfully used its core patents related to LED packaging and manufacturing. The technologies at issue reportedly include packaging structures designed to improve heat dissipation of LED chips, metal wiring layer configurations, and bonding methods for sapphire or ceramic substrates. Each of these elements constitutes a critical factor determining LED performance and lifespan.

Seoul Semiconductor: From “Partner” to “Defendant”

 One particularly notable point in this lawsuit is the inclusion of Seoul Semiconductor as a direct defendant. Until now, Seoul Semiconductor had been mentioned only indirectly as a supplier of LED components to Samsung Electronics. However, being listed as a defendant suggests that the dispute now extends beyond the simple supply chain and into technology design processes. This indicates a full-scale confrontation among core technology owners rather than a mere supply-related issue.

Products and Technologies at the Center of the Dispute

 LED Wafer Solutions claims in its complaint that the LED flash modules used in Samsung’s Galaxy S, Z, and A series smartphones infringe its patents. According to the plaintiff, the structure of these modules is identical or substantially similar to claims in its patents, constituting not only technical similarity but intentional infringement. The plaintiff also argues that Samsung and Seoul Semiconductor continued adopting similar structures even after the technology was publicly disclosed, demonstrating that they recognized the existence of the patents yet persisted in infringement.

Samsung Galaxy camera/ LED flash module
(Source: Samsung Electronics, ko.ifix.com)

The Patents at Issue and Strategic Venue Selection

 The key patents cited in the complaint are U.S. Patent Nos. 8,952,405 and 9,786,822, both of which recently received reexamination certificates. This indicates that the USPTO has reaffirmed the validity of their claims, which strengthens the credibility of LED Wafer Solutions’ assertions. Meanwhile, the lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Texas, a venue well known for its high volume of patent litigation cases. The court’s jury system and procedural tendencies are widely considered favorable to patent holders, suggesting that the plaintiff may have strategically selected this jurisdiction.

So what exactly do these asserted patents cover?

 Both US 8,952,405 and US 9,786,822 relate to “Light emitting diode packages and methods of manufacture.” The technology integrates a wafer substrate and a light-emitting device into a single package to improve manufacturing efficiency for LED devices. It is a technology cited by Samsung Electronics as well as other major electronics manufacturers.

wipsglobal.com > Family analysis > Family Diagram
US 9786822, Light emitting diode package and method of manufacture

How Samsung Electronics and Seoul Semiconductor Might Respond

 For Seoul Semiconductor, this lawsuit may pose a significant burden. The company has built a strong global track record in patent enforcement and defense based on its proprietary technologies. However, as a defendant rather than an enforcer, it must now develop a structured defense strategy. This could influence future royalty negotiations, potential design modifications, and even market reputation.

 Samsung Electronics also cannot take this lawsuit lightly. Despite being a global brand known for strong technological capabilities, litigation in the United States can directly affect international trust and corporate reputation. Samsung is therefore expected to mobilize extensive legal and technical teams to present a detailed rebuttal.

Outlook

 Ultimately, this dispute represents a courtroom battle over “who truly owns the technology.” LED Wafer Solutions seeks to strengthen its patent rights and pursue compensation, while Samsung Electronics and Seoul Semiconductor are expected to mount a strong defense to demonstrate technological independence and non-infringement. As the lawsuit is still in its early stages, the process will soon move on to responses from the defendants, claim-construction procedures, and potential mediation or settlement discussions.

 Beyond determining the winner of a single lawsuit, the outcome may carry broader implications for how Korean technology companies protect their technological sovereignty in the global market. This is why industry watchers are keeping a close eye on future developments.

 

 

 

 

"Solving Inter-Floor Noise with Technology" Patent Trends in Inter-Floor Noise Reduction

 

Is enduring inter-floor noise the only answer?

 Noise from children running, furniture being moved late at night, and other daily activities often triggers conflict between neighbors. In Korea, where apartment living is especially common, inter-floor noise has become an everyday source of stress for many residents. According to a survey by the Ministry of Environment, complaints related to inter-floor noise have more than doubled over the past five years. Is there no fundamental solution to this issue? In this issue, we explore patent technologies and trends aimed at mitigating inter-floor noise.

Major Causes of Inter-Floor Noise

Inter-floor noise is more than simple inconvenience; it can cause psychological stress, sleep disturbance, depression, and even anger. What types of noise typically arise in apartment buildings?

 Since inter-floor noise originates from various sources, blocking it entirely at the source is extremely difficult. Therefore, incorporating noise-reduction measures during the construction phase is often the most effective solution. With this in mind, major construction companies in Korea have been investing heavily in developing new technologies to prevent and reduce inter-floor noise. Below are several noteworthy examples.

Active Inter-Floor Noise Reduction Device

 Lotte E&C, in collaboration with acoustic engineering company Siren Acoustics, has been studying a technology inspired by noise-canceling systems used in audio devices. When an impact occurs in the upper unit, a vibration sensor installed beneath the ceiling detects it and converts the impact into an electrical signal. This signal is then transmitted to a “muter,” which emits counter-vibrations to cancel out the impact noise. The muter is a system that integrates vibration sensors, signal-processing modules, and vibration-control components. Among these, the vibration sensor plays the most critical role.

 A key advantage of this technology is that it can be easily installed within ceiling finish layers, making it suitable not only for newly constructed buildings but also for retrofitting existing apartments.

wipsglobal.com > View Details
KR10-2025-0045169, Method and apparatus for installing noise cancellation device

A Breakthrough for Heavy Impact Noise: Noise-Reducing Mortar

 At the core of this technology is noise-reducing mortar, also known as viscoelastic mortar, which demonstrates excellent performance in absorbing impact energy. While traditional floating-floor structures typically use lightweight concrete or standard mortar layers, this method replaces them with viscoelastic mortar.

A floating-floor structure suspends the floor finish on resilient materials to prevent noise from being transmitted into the building. While effective for reducing lightweight impact noise (such as small objects falling or light footsteps), this structure is inherently vulnerable to heavy impact noise because the floor finish acts as a mass and cushioning layer acts as a spring, forming a vibration system.

However, incorporating a viscoelastic mortar layer with superior damping properties allows this structure to effectively absorb not only lightweight impact noise but also heavy impact noise.

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KR10-2771831, Gelatinizing mortar compositions and viscoelastic dampening floating floor construction for floor impact sound reduction using the same

Reducing Noise With a “Sandwich-Type Cushion Mat”

 DL E&C, a leading developer of noise-control technologies, has created a new cushion mat for inter-floor noise reduction. Designed to be installed between the concrete slab and the mortar layer, this mat features multiple rows of receptacle spaces that house sound-absorbing inserts. By adding these inserts, the composite cushion panel gains enhanced sound-absorption capability, making it possible to control resonance that occurs during floor impacts.

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KR10-2025-0066526, Composite absorbing panels for reducing floor impact sound

 By using this cushion mat, the composite panel delivers both damping and absorption performance, while the internal sound-absorbing inserts provide additional resonance-absorption effects. As a result, this system can effectively reduce impact noise across a wide frequency range, from lightweight to heavy impact noise.

Inter-Floor Noise Is No Longer an Issue of Personal Endurance, but a Technical Challenge,

 According to Statistics Korea’s 2023 Population and Housing Census, apartments accounted for 64.6 percent of all housing types. This means roughly 6 out of 10 people in Korea live in multi-unit apartment buildings, making inter-floor noise a widespread social issue rather than a matter confined to individuals.

As we've seen in the technologies discussed today, construction companies are now focusing not only on building safely but also on developing solutions that reduce and prevent inter-floor noise. With continued technological advancement and new patent-based innovations, we can look forward to quieter and more comfortable living environments in the future.