In late October, Samsung submitted a complaint against BOE to the United States International Trade Commission, alleging unfair competition and the unauthorized use of Samsung’s intellectual property in the production of OLED display modules.
The relationship between these two technology giants has a history. Previously, Samsung Display sought to prohibit US wholesalers from dealing with OLED panels, claiming that the panels were unlawfully manufactured in China using technology stolen from Samsung. Although this action was not directly aimed at BOE at that time, BOE took on the expenses for the wholesalers involved as a response. Subsequently, the ITC intervened and initiated an investigation in early 2023.
As a countermeasure, BOE launched several lawsuits against Samsung in China, targeting not only Samsung Display but also other branches of the company including semiconductor, investment, and vision. Samsung’s recent complaint against BOE may be a response to these actions.
It is important to note that BOE is striving to become a supplier of OLED panels for Apple. However, the company is facing challenges in meeting Apple’s strict quality control requirements. Consequently, Apple had to rely on Samsung again this year for iPhone 15 panels, leaving BOE out of the equation once more.