| Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong views products that use QD-LED technology at Samsung Display's plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, March 19. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics |
By Baek Byung-yeul
Samsung and LG are scrambling to take the lead in the next-generation display technology sector and fighting to win the trademark rights for quantum dot nano-emitting diode (QNED) technology.
The two Korean tech giants have long been competing for global leadership in the TV market and it remains to be seen which one can take over the next-generation market.
According to industry officials Wednesday, Samsung Display, a display-making affiliate of Samsung Electronics, filed applications on Sept. 25 for trademark rights for QNED, NED and QDNED with the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS).
Samsung Display said its trademark rights can be applied to 20 kinds of products including TVs, signs, monitors and smartphones. It also applied for trademark rights for QNED in the United States, the European Union and Australia.
Samsung Display's action came after LG Electronics filed for trademark rights for QNED, QNLED and NQED with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on Sept. 7. LG also has filed applications for trademark rights for QNED in other countries.
Both companies said they filed applications for trademark registrations as part of their efforts to preemptively occupy the future technology.
"LG Electronics has been considering various future display technologies and has applied for an application to preemptively occupy the trademark," an LG Electronics official said.
Samsung Display also said it "has been conducting research and development activities of quantum-dot-based display technologies and filed an application for the trademark as part of our efforts."
Industry officials said Samsung and LG have been trying hard for the naming rights as QNED display technology is considered to be next-generation following quantum-dot technology and OLED technology, which Samsung and LG are mainly using in their premium TVs.
Samsung and LG announced their bids to exit the saturated traditional LCD market as the industry is rapidly worsening due to a significant influx of Chinese manufacturers. Samsung said in March that the company would stop producing LCD displays and focus on utilizing its advanced quantum dot technologies such as QNED.
QNED technology is known to be superior compared with other technologies as the display can use inkjet printing technology to produce nanorod LEDs, which reduce production costs and ensure longer lifespans and a larger color selection.
While Samsung and LG are reportedly expected to compete fiercely for QNED leadership, a TV industry official said both companies would be able to use QNED for their products as registration for trademark rights doesn't mean that other companies that don't have the rights will be prohibited from using the technology.
"Currently, both companies have filed trademark applications, but it is difficult to know when the patent offices will accept their applications. Even if their applications are accepted, this doesn't mean either one will monopolize the right to use QNED," the official, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
"Whichever gets first or second, both companies will be able to use QNED by calling it Samsung QNED or LG QNED. Applying for trademark rights seems closer to the ordinary business activities of the two companies."