On March 10, 2020 (U.S. time), Sharp Corporation (hereinafter “Sharp”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Xianyang CaiHong Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd (Head Office: Xianyang, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China (“China”)) (“CHOT”) which is manufacturing and selling liquid crystal panels, TPV Technology Limited (Head Office: Hong Kong) including its subsidiaries, and Vizio, Inc. (Head Office: Irvine, California, United States) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Sharp alleges that these entities have infringed twelve patents related to Liquid Crystal Display (“LCD”), including Polymer-Sustained Alignment (“PSA”) and High Definition Display Technologies.

Sharp sought to resolve the alleged infringement through negotiations and brought the issue to CHOT’s attention in November of 2019. After providing ample evidence of use and opportunities for a negotiation, CHOT failed to stop infringing Sharp’s patents. To prevent further losses, Sharp is asserting its intellectual property rights against CHOT.

In the lawsuit, Sharp alleges that these companies are infringing Sharp’s LCD patents and seeks an injunction prohibiting further acts of infringement and compensation for lost profits and for use of Sharp’s technology in each infringing liquid crystal panel.

For over forty years as a leading company in the industry, Sharp has devoted substantial resources to the development of cutting-edge technology to its customers, including liquid crystal panel and 8K display devices. As a result, Sharp has established a solid reputation as an innovator in the field and holds more than 10,000 display patents in the United States, China, Japan, and other countries. Sharp’s patent portfolio covers most core display technologies, beginning with foundational inventions and extending to recent advances, including Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Semiconductor (“IGZO”), Ultraviolet induced multi-domain Vertical Alignment (“UV2A”), Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon (“LTPS”), Multi-Primary Colors (“MPC”), Free-Form Display, PSA, and High Definition Display Technologies. Most of the world’s display makers recognize the positions of Sharp’s proprietary technologies and have benefited for many years from licensing Sharp’s patent portfolio.

Sharp’s patent portfolio is a major resource for its business development and licensing efforts, and Sharp has and will continue to take all necessary actions in the United States, China and globally to protect its intellectual property rights against all infringers.