E Ink, the world's largest electronic paper display (EPD) supplier has signed a patent cross-licensing agreement with Sharp to use TFT and LCD technologies.
Additionally, E Ink's unit in South Korea, Hydis Technologies, also signed a similar agreement with Sharp, allowing both parties to use certain patented technologies from one another in return for licensing fees.
Sources said the agreement was signed because Sharp's biggest customer is Apple and the company wants patented technologies for the iPad, which Hydis makes LCD panels for based on FFS technology.
The agreement is valid for 10 years and will help prevent E Ink and Sharp along with their customers from being affected by patent issues, added E Ink chairman Scott Liu.
E Ink chairman Scott Liu talks about E Ink's agreement with Sharp
Photo: Michael Lee, Digitimes, July 2012
Article translated by Alex Wolfgram
