Japan-based Nichia has filed with Tokyo District Court a charge against IPF, a Japanese after-market automotive component sales agent, alleging LED devices used in IPF-distributed automotive headlight bulbs infringe on its Japan patent concerning LED packaging structure.

Nichia said the LED devices were jointly developed by IPF and Taiwan-based Lextar Electronics.

Nichia said it has obtained patents for the technology in Japan, the US, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia and India.

In response, Lextar said it has not yet received court documents but will keep watching progress of the lawsuit for taking action and helping IPF handle the lawsuit.