XML 55 R16.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
11.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

Under the 2006 Research Agreement with USC, the Company is obligated to make certain payments to USC based on work performed by USC under that agreement, and by Michigan under its subcontractor agreement with USC.  See Note 5 for further explanation.

Under the terms of the 1997 Amended License Agreement, the Company is required to make minimum royalty payments to Princeton.  See Note 5 for further explanation.

The Company has agreements with five executive officers which provide for certain cash and other benefits upon termination of employment of the officer in connection with a change in control of the Company. Each executive is entitled to a lump-sum cash payment equal to two times the sum of the average annual base salary and bonus of the officer and immediate vesting of all stock options and other equity awards that may be outstanding at the date of the change in control, among other items.
 
Opposition to European Patent No. 0946958

On December 8, 2006, Cambridge Display Technology Ltd. (CDT), which was acquired in 2007 by Sumitomo Chemical Company (Sumitomo), filed a Notice of Opposition to European Patent No. 0946958 (EP '958 patent). The EP '958 patent, which was issued on March 8, 2006, is a European counterpart patent to U.S. patents 5,844,363, 6,602,540, 6,888,306 and 7,247,073. These patents relate to the Company's FOLEDT flexible OLED technology. They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

The European Patent Office (the EPO) conducted an Oral Hearing in this matter and on November 26, 2009 issued its written decision to reject the opposition and to maintain the patent as granted.   CDT has filed an appeal to the EPO panel decision.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes that the EPO panel decision will be upheld on appeal. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Opposition to European Patent No. 1449238

Between March 8, 2007 and July 27, 2007, three companies filed Notices of Opposition to European Patent No. 1449238 (EP '238 patent). The three companies are Sumation Company Limited (Sumation), a joint venture between Sumitomo and CDT, Merck Patent GmbH, of Darmstadt, Germany, and BASF Aktiengesellschaft, of Mannheim, Germany.  The EP '238 patent, which was issued on November 2, 2006, is a European counterpart patent, in part, to U.S. patents 6,830,828; 6,902,830; 7,001,536; 7,291,406; 7,537,844; and 7,883,787; and to pending U.S. patent application 13/009,001, filed on January 19, 2011, and 13/205,290, filed on August 9, 2011 (hereinafter the "U.S. '828 Patent Family"). These patents and patent applications relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

The EPO combined all three oppositions into a single opposition proceeding. The EPO conducted an Oral Hearing in this matter and at the conclusion of the Oral Hearing, the EPO panel announced its decision to maintain the patent with claims directed to OLEDs comprising phosphorescent organometallic iridium compounds. The official minutes from the Oral Hearing and written decision were published on January 13, 2012.

All the parties filed notices of appeal to the EPO's panel decision on March 13, 2012.  The parties are permitted to file papers in support of their respective requests for appellate review.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes that the EPO will uphold the Company's positions on appeal. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Invalidation Trial in Japan for Japan Patent No. 3992929

On April 19, 2010, the Company received a copy of a Notice of Invalidation Trial from the Japanese Patent Office (the JPO) for the Company's Japan Patent No. 3992929 (the JP '929 patent), which was issued on August 3, 2007. The request for the Invalidation Trial was filed by Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. (SEL), of Kanagawa, Japan. The JP '929 patent is a Japanese counterpart patent, in part, to the above-noted EP '238 patent and to the above-noted U.S. '828 Patent Family, which relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. Under its license agreement with Princeton, the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

On February 28, 2011, the Company learned that the JPO had issued a decision recognizing the Company's invention and upholding the validity of most of the claims, but finding the broadest claims in the patent invalid. Company management believes that the JPO's decision invalidating these claims was erroneous, and the Company filed an appeal to the Japanese IP High Court.

Both parties filed appeal briefs in this matter with the Japanese IP High Court. A technical explanation hearing was held on February 1, 2012.  At the hearing, both parties filed technical materials supporting their respective positions.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes that the JPO decision invalidating certain claims in the Company's JP '929 patent should be overturned on appeal as to all or a significant portion of the claims. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.
 
Opposition to European Patent No. 1394870

On about April 20, 2010, five European companies filed Notices of Opposition to European Patent No. 1394870 (the EP '870 patent). The EP '870 patent, which was issued on July 22, 2009, is a European counterpart patent, in part, to U.S. patents 6,303,238; 6,579,632; 6,872,477; 7,279,235; 7,279,237; 7,488,542; 7,563,519; and 7,901,795; and to pending U.S. patent application 13/035,051, filed on February 25, 2011 (hereinafter the "U.S. '238 Patent Family"). These patents and this patent application relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding. The five companies are Merck Patent GmbH; BASF Schweitz AG of Basel, Switzerland; Osram GmbH of Munich, Germany; Siemens Aktiengesellschaft of Munich, Germany; and Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., of Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

The EPO combined the oppositions into a single opposition proceeding. The matter has been briefed and the Company is waiting for the EPO to provide notice of the date of the Oral Hearing.  The Company is also waiting to see whether any of the other parties in the opposition file additional documents, to which the Company might respond.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patent being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of its claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Invalidation Trials in Japan for Japan Patent Nos. 4357781 and 4358168

On May 24, 2010, the Company received copies of two additional Notices of Invalidation Trials against Japan Patent Nos. 4357781 (the JP '781 patent) and 4358168 (the JP '168 patent), which were both issued on August 14, 2009. The requests for these two additional Invalidation Trials were also filed by SEL. The JP '781 and '168 patents are also Japanese counterpart patents, in part, to the above-noted U.S. '828 Patent Family and EP '238 Patent, which relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. Under its license agreement with Princeton, the Company is also required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with these two proceedings.

On March 31, 2011, the Company learned that the JPO had issued decisions finding all claims in the JP '781 and JP '168 patents invalid. Company management believes that the JPO's decisions invalidating these claims were erroneous, and the Company filed appeals for both cases to the Japanese IP High Court.

Both parties are in the process of filing appeal briefs in this matter with the Japanese IP High Court. The Japanese IP High Court held hearings for this matter on November 22, 2011, and March 5, 2012.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes that the JPO decisions invalidating all the claims in the Company's JP '781 and JP '168 patents should be overturned on appeal as to all or a significant portion of the claims. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Invalidation Trial in Korea for Patent No. KR-0998059

On March 10, 2011, the Company received informal notice from the Company's Korean patent counsel of a Request for an Invalidation Trial from the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) for its Korean Patent No. 10-0998059 (the KR '059 patent), which was issued on November 26, 2010. The Request was filed by a certain individual petitioner, but the Company still does not know which company, if any, was ultimately responsible for filing this Request. The KR '059 patent is a Korean counterpart patent to the OVJP, Organic Vapor Jet Printing, family of U.S. patents originating from U.S. patent 7,431,968.

On April 21, 2011, the Company's Korean patent counsel received a copy of the petitioner's brief in support of the Request. The Company filed a response to the Request on June 20, 2011. The petitioner filed a rebuttal brief on August 8, 2011, and the Company filed a response to the rebuttal brief on October 12, 2011.  The petitioner filed a second rebuttal brief on January 17, 2012, and the Company filed a response to the second rebuttal brief on March 29, 2012.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patent being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of its claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.
 
Invalidation Trials in Korea for Patent Nos. KR-558632 and KR-963857

On May 11 and May 31, 2011, respectively, the Company learned that Requests for Invalidation Trials were filed in Korea, on May 3 and May 26, 2011, respectively, for the Company's Korean Patent Nos. KR-558632 (the KR '632 patent), which issued on March 2, 2006, and KR-963857 (the KR '857 patent), which issued on June 8, 2010. The Requests were filed by Duk San Hi-metal, Ltd. (Duk San) of Korea. The KR '632 and KR '857 patents are both Korean counterpart patents, in part, to U.S. '238 Patent Family and to EP '870 patent, which is subject to the above-noted European Opposition; and to the JP '024 patent, which is subject to the below-noted Japanese Invalidation Trial, all of which relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

The Company timely filed its formal responses to the Requests by the due dates of August 27, 2011 and September 8, 2011, respectively.  Duk San filed a reply brief on December 16, 2011 relating to the KR '857 patent, to which the Company timely filed a responsive brief on April 23, 2012.  Both parties may file additional briefs in these matters with KIPO.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patents being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of their claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Invalidation Trials in Korea for Patent Nos. KR-744199 and KR-913568

On May 10 and May 31, 2011, respectively, the Company learned that Requests for Invalidation Trials were filed in Korea, on May 3 and May 26, 2011, respectively, for the Company's Korean Patent Nos. KR-744199 (the KR '199 patent), which issued on July 24, 2007, and KR-913568 (the KR '568 patent), which issued on August 17, 2009. The Requests were also filed by Duk San. The KR '199 and KR '568 patents are both Korean counterpart patents, in part, to the U.S. '828 Patent Family which relate to the EP '238 patent, which is subject to one of the above-noted European Oppositions; and to the JP '929 patent, which is subject to one of the above-noted Japanese Invalidation Trials. These patents and patent applications relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

The Company timely filed its formal responses to the Requests by the due dates of September 1, 2011 and August 23, 2011, respectively.  Both parties are in the process of filing briefs in these matters with KIPO.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patents being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of their claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Invalidation Trial in Japan for Japan Patent No. 4511024

On June 16, 2011, the Company learned that a Request for an Invalidation Trial was filed in Japan for the Company's Japanese Patent No. JP-4511024 (the JP '024 patent), which issued on May 14, 2010. The Request was filed by SEL, the same opponent as in the above-noted Japanese Invalidation Trial for the JP '929 patent. The JP '024 patent is a counterpart patent, in part, to the U.S. '238 Patent Family, which relate to the EP '870 patent, which is subject to one of the above-noted European Oppositions; and to the KR '632 and KR '857 patents, which are subject to one of the above noted Korean Invalidation Trials. These patents and the pending U.S. patent application relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

The Company timely filed a Written Reply to the Request for Invalidation Trial.  A hearing was held on March 15, 2012.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patent being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of its claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Opposition to European Patent No. 1252803

On July 12 and 13, 2011, three companies filed Oppositions to the Company's European Patent No. 1252803 (the EP '803 patent).  The three companies are Sumitomo, Merck Patent GmbH and BASF SE, of Ludwigshaven, Germany. The EP '803 patent, which was issued on October 13, 2010, is a European counterpart patent, in part, to the U.S. '828 Patent Family, which relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

The EPO combined the oppositions into a single opposition proceeding.  The Company's initial response to the oppositions was timely filed prior to the February 18, 2012 extended due date.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patent being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of its claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Invalidation Trials in Korea for Patent Nos. KR-794,975, KR-840,637 and KR-937,470

On August 8, 2011, the Company received information indicating that Requests for Invalidation Trials were filed against the Company's Korean Patent Nos. KR-840,637 (the KR '637 patent) and KR-937,470 (the KR '470 patent), which issued on June 17, 2008 and January 11, 2010, respectively. On December 12, 2011, the Company received information that a further Request for an Invalidation Trial was filed against the Company's Korean Patent No. KR-794,975 (the KR '975 patent).  The Requests were also filed by Duk San. The KR '975, KR '637 and KR '470 patents are Korean counterpart patents, in part, to the U.S. '828 Patent Family; to the EP '803 patent, which is subject to one of the above-noted European Oppositions; and to the JP '781 and JP '168 patents, which are subject to the above-noted Japanese Invalidation Trials. These patents and patent applications relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

The Company's formal responses relating to the KR '637, KR '470, and KR '975 patents were timely filed on December 7, 2011, December 8, 2011 and March 3, 2012, respectively.  Both parties may file additional briefs in these matters with KIPO.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patents being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of their claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Opposition to European Patent No. 1390962

On November 16, 2011, Osram AG and BASF SE each filed a Notice of Opposition to European Patent No. 1390962 (EP '962 patent). The EP '962 patent, which was issued on February 16, 2011, is a European counterpart patent to U.S. patents 7,009,338 and 7,285,907.  These patents relate to the Company's white phosphorescent OLED technology.  They are exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

The EPO combined the oppositions into a single opposition proceeding.  The Company is in the process of preparing its response to the oppositions.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patent being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of its claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.

Opposition to European Patent No. 1933395

On February 24 and 27, 2012, Oppositions were filed to the Company's European Patent No. 1933395 (the EP '395 patent). These Oppositions were filed by Sumitomo, Merck Patent GmbH and BASF SE.  The EP '395 patent is a counterpart patent to the above-noted Japan Patent No. 4358168, and to the above-noted Patent Nos. KR-840,637 and KR-937,470, counterpart patent, in part, to the U.S. '828 Patent Family, which relate to the Company's UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. This patent is exclusively licensed to the Company by Princeton, and under the license agreement the Company is required to pay all legal costs and fees associated with this proceeding.

At this time, based on its current knowledge, Company management believes there is a substantial likelihood that the patent being challenged will be declared valid, and that all or a significant portion of its claims will be upheld. However, Company management cannot make any assurances of this result.