News: Optoelectronics
16 October 2025
ams OSRAM and Nichia expand their intellectual property collaboration
ams OSRAM GmbH of Premstaetten/Graz, Austria and Munich, Germany and Nichia Corp of Tokushima, Japan have expanded their long-standing collaboration in the field of intellectual property (IP). ams OSRAM’s CEO Aldo Kamper and Nichia’s president Hiroyoshi Ogawa signed a comprehensive cross-license agreement covering thousands of patent-protected innovations in LED and laser technologies.
The agreement grants both companies mutual access to each other’s patents for nitride LED and laser components and, for the first time, also covers LED packages and LED modules, such as matrix headlamps. The move aims to strengthen the IP protection that both companies offer to their customers.
ams OSRAM and Nichia say they have invested heavily in R&D over decades. With the new patent cross-license agreement, they offer customers enhanced IP safety when using products based on their patented technologies. Both companies have a long history of cross-license agreements, which started in 2002, followed by an update in 2010. The new agreement covers R&D results from the last 15 years.
Picture: Nichia’s president Hiroyoshi Ogawa (left) and ams OSRAM’s CEO Aldo Kamper (right) sign the patent cross-license agreement.
“In an industry driven by innovation, intellectual property is the foundation of trust and long-term value. Unfortunately, we continue to see LED and laser products entering the market that do not meet essential IP standards,” says Kamper. “Together with Nichia, we encourage customers to scrutinize claims of IP compliance and to choose partners holding a unique IP position like ams OSRAM and Nichia,” he adds.
“Nichia and ams OSRAM have renewed the most comprehensive and robust cross-licensing agreement in the sector,” says Ogawa. “Customers who select products from Nichia or ams OSRAM benefit from extensive patent protection, ensuring confidence in their business activities. Standing together, we will continue to safeguard the market’s integrity by encouraging respect for intellectual property throughout our industry.”
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