Display rivals may initiate discussions

Samsung Display and LG Display, the world’s two biggest display makers, may begin working-level talks to resolve their longstanding legal squabble as early as next month, company heads said yesterday.

“Following a discussion on the scope of working-level talks, [we will] try to meet in early March,” LG Display chief executive Han Sang-beom told reporters. Samsung Display chief executive Kim Ki-nam also reaffirmed his stance toward resolving the issue in a “constructive direction.”

The two company heads, meanwhile, hinted at signing cross-licensing agreements.

“Overall, we are considering cross-licensing patents. That will help the two companies compete with better products in the global market,” Kim said, adding the process may take a long time. Han said it is too early to connect working-level talks to cross-licensing deals and stressed that they have to be worked out step-by-step.

The remarks come as Samsung Display and LG Display are moving to resolve their fight over organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and liquid-crystal display (LCD) technology that broke out on the heels of investigations into an alleged leak from Samsung to LG last year. After filing requests banning sales of certain products and use of certain technologies, the two companies recently agreed to make peace in a meeting organized by the commerce ministry. Earlier this month, Samsung Display dropped an injunction request aimed to block LG from using its OLED technology. In response, LG submitted a document to nullify its sales ban request on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 devices. Yonhap