SFC Patent Revoked Due to SK Materials JNC Prior Art

(Source: SFC)

SK Materials JNC's Prior Art and SFC's Own Patent Block SFC's New Patent Claims

The Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB) has ruled to revoke several claims of SFC's patent titled "Organic Light Emitting Diode Including Novel Organic Compounds in Light Emitting Layer" (Patent No. KR2439581), following a cancellation request. Initially filed in July 2021 and granted in August 2022, the patent relates to OLED technology, aiming to improve luminous efficiency, reduce operating voltage, and extend the lifespan of OLED devices through the use of novel organic compounds in the light-emitting layers. 

The patent specifically covers OLED devices with two emission layers, where one or more layers contain organic compounds represented by chemical formulas A or B, designed to outperform existing technology. The main goal of the patented invention was to create OLEDs with enhanced efficiency, lower operating power, and extended durability by utilizing advanced organic compounds. 

A cancellation trial was filed against the patent in February 2023. In June 2024, the IPTAB invalidated claims 1-4, 6, 7, and 14-24 of the patent. 

The Board found that claims 1-4, 6, 7, 14, 15, and 23 could have been easily derived by someone skilled in the art, referencing SK Materials JNC's published patent, "Organic Electroluminescent Element" (Publication No. KR2019-0090333) as prior art. 

Additionally, claims 16-22 and 24 were deemed obvious based on the combination of prior art from SK Materials JNC's patent and SFC's earlier patent, "Organic Compound for Organic Light Emitting Diode and an Organic Light Emitting Diode Including the Same with Long Life" (Publication No. KR2020-0090597). 

SFC responded to the IPTAB's decision by filing an appeal with the Patent Court in July 2024. The dispute is ongoing. 

SK Materials JNC, a joint venture formed in 2020 between SK Materials Co. and Japan's JNC Corporation, is known for its foundational patent technology in boron-based blue dopants. The company provides blue dopants and other materials to major OLED clients both domestically and internationally. 

(Source: https://www.sk-materials.com/new/eng/html/subsidiary/jnc.asp)