BOE Technology Group has filed a second patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Display in under two months, escalating a legal showdown that could disrupt Apple's iPhone OLED panel supply chain and reshape the global display industry.
Citing US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas filings, South Korean media outlet The Guru reports that BOE and its subsidiary, Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology, have filed a new complaint accusing Samsung Display of infringing four OLED-related patents. The disputed technologies involve encapsulation films to improve panel durability, display circuitry, under-display camera (UDC) components, and pixel-driving circuits.
The lawsuit targets Samsung Electronics' premium smartphones, including the Galaxy Z Fold5, Fold6, and the S25 Ultra, as allegedly infringing devices. BOE is demanding triple damages for willful infringement and has asked the court to ban the import, sale, and distribution of the affected products in the US, along with full legal cost compensation.
The filing follows an earlier lawsuit by BOE in May 2025 in the same court. The legal standoff now includes five patent infringement cases and one trade secret dispute between the two companies, with Samsung Display initiating three and BOE two. None of the cases has yet reached a verdict.
Trade secret case: ITC ruling may hit BOE's Apple ties
Amid unresolved patent disputes, a parallel trade secret case is moving in Samsung's favor. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) recently issued a preliminary ruling stating that BOE and seven of its subsidiaries violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act by misappropriating Samsung Display's OLED trade secrets to produce panels and modules.
The ITC proposed a limited exclusion order to bar the import of BOE's infringing OLED products into the US, along with a cease-and-desist order targeting existing inventories. While the ruling is preliminary, analysts note that such decisions are seldom reversed. A final determination is expected in November 2025, followed by a 60-day presidential review period.
The consequences for BOE could be significant. The company has become a major secondary OLED supplier for iPhones, having built annual capacity for 100 million panels as of June 2025, posing a challenge to entrenched suppliers Samsung Display and LG Display.
If the ban is enforced, BOE would be prohibited from exporting OLED panels to the US, threatening its multiyear push to cement its role in Apple's high-end supply chain. Analysts say the situation could prompt Apple to rethink its sourcing strategy, with Samsung and LG standing to gain.
Apple supply at risk, domestic price pressure looms
BOE began supplying Apple in 2017 with displays for iPads, MacBooks, and Apple Watches, before entering the iPhone OLED panel segment with the iPhone 12. It established the B11 fab in Mianyang, Sichuan, to handle Apple-specific OLED orders.
Korea JoongAng Daily estimates that BOE supplies roughly 20% of OLED panels for the iPhone 16 lineup. Any disruption could delay production and ripple through global panel pricing.
Although existing Apple devices already imported to the US wouldn't be impacted by the ITC ruling, Business Korea notes that the legal risks could lead Apple to reconsider its dependence on BOE. In the near term, Samsung and LG are seen as the likely alternatives.
Some Chinese market analysts suggest BOE may redirect unused OLED capacity to the domestic market, potentially triggering intensified price competition. This shift could also accelerate BOE's entry into the premium LTPO OLED segment used in flagship iPhones, posing long-term competitive pressure on South Korean rivals.
BOE said it would seek a review of the ITC's decision and reaffirmed its commitment to the global display industry's long-term development.
US ITC preliminary ruling against BOE and potential implications | |
Item | Details |
ITC preliminary ruling | ● BOE and seven affiliated companies were found to have violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act by misappropriating Samsung Display's trade secrets. The ITC recommends imposing an import ban on OLED panels. |
Proposed orders | ● Limited exclusion order: Prohibits the import of the implicated OLED panels, modules, and components into the US. |
Effective date | ● November 2025 (if the ruling is finalized) |
Key impact | ● If the ban takes effect, BOE will be unable to ship OLED panels to the US, potentially affecting its supply relationship with Apple and iPhone production. Samsung and LG may benefit. |
Background | ● October 2023: Samsung filed a complaint with the ITC accusing BOE of misappropriating OLED trade secrets. |
Source: BOE, Patently Apple, and Money UDN; compiled by DIGITIMES, July 2025
Article edited by Jerry Chen
