LED suppliers Osram and Philips have agreed a cross-license deal covering the manufacture of LEDs for use in luminaires, or lighting fittings.
Osram has paid Philips an un-disclosed amount as well as selling rights to some of its own patents.
The signficance of this is that it relates to key colour-changing LED patents held by Color Kinetics and TIR Systems, companies which were acquired by Philips last year.
“It stimulates new possibilities for the lighting market and, like Philips, we will accelerate the development of this market,“ said Martin Goetzeler, CEO of Osram.
Philips acquired Massachusetts-based luminaire-maker Color Kinetics in 2007. Color Kinetics had a number of patents which cover aspects of the control of LED lighting fixtures over data busses, and the control of the emission colour of such fixtures using pulse with modulation.
These patents are thought to be critical in the design of some types of colour LED fittings. As a result Osram has ensured that its LED luminaire manufacturing customers can use specific components without having to pay licence fees to Philips.
"Luminaire manufacturers are therefore released from the costs resulting from the LED luminaire licence program recently published by Philips,“ said Osram.
See also: Electronics Weekly's roundup of content related to LEDs, with a special focus on both white LEDs and coloured LEDs:
LED technology - White LEDs
LED technology - Coloured LEDs
LED technology - LEDs general
LED technology - LEDs Lighting