Hydis Technologies Fights Uphill Battle in Patent Dispute with TCL

One Patent Invalidated, Three More Facing Legal Challenges

(Source: https://kr.eink.com/product/detail/AA1020-NCA)

Hydis Technologies is struggling to defend its patents in an ongoing dispute with TCL Overseas Marketing Ltd. One patent has been definitively invalidated, and the other three are currently under invalidation rulings.

In May 2022, TCL filed invalidation trials with the Korean Intellectual Property Tribunal (KIPT) targeting four patents held by Hydis. 

The first decision, rendered in December 2022, saw Hydis' patent for "Back Light Unit Using LED" (KR0982089) invalidated in favor of TCL. Hydis challenged the decision in the Patent Court, but the court ruled against Hydis. The Supreme Court of Korea dismissed the appeal in May 2024.

Hydis also sought to amend the invalidated patent through a correction trial, but the request was denied in June 2023. Subsequent appeals to the Patent Court and the Supreme Court were also unsuccessful, with final rulings issued in January and May 2024, respectively.

Hydis is also fighting the invalidation of its "Liquid Crystal Display" patent (KR0764292), which was struck down by the KIPT in October 2022. The company has appealed the ruling, and the next hearing is scheduled for November 2024. A correction trial for the same patent was rejected in April 2023, but Hydis successfully overturned this in December 2023. The KIPT accepted the correction request in July 2024. 

Hydis' correction request was accepted, likely narrowing the scope of the patent rights. This development significantly reduces the likelihood of the patent being invalidated, as a narrower claim scope tends to strengthen the patent's defensibility. 

Two additional Hydis patents, "Liquid Crystal Display Device" (KR2010493) and "Method for Forming Post Spacer of LCD Device" (KR0488953), were invalidated by the KIPT in April and July 2023. Hydis has appealed both decisions, with hearings scheduled for November and December 2024. The company has also filed correction trials for these two patents.