Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) on January 23 filed a suit in the Intermediate People's Court in Shenzhen City alleging that products of Yantai Shield Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. and U.S.-based Intematix Corporation infringed on a patent for red phosphor owned by MCC and National Institute for Materials Science.

MCC seeks an injunction on the production and sale of phosphors in China and damages in this lawsuit. The Chinese patent no. ZL201110066517.7 relates to a nitride-type red phosphor commonly known as CASN, SCASN, or 1113 phosphor, and LEDs, lighting devices and backlighting for LCD panels, etc. in which such phosphor is used. CASN or SCASN is extensively used in LEDs due to its high brightness and reliability.

In Korea, the patent infringement litigation against Intematix, using the Korean counterpart to that patent, is still under way. On February 5, 2013, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in MCC's favor and banned the import and sale of Intematix products in Korea.

"The current suit is to afford legal protection of the intellectual properties of MCC, a company that has aggressively invested in China and developed business there for many years. We believe the suit will contribute to orderly and healthy growth of the phosphor industry," MCC said.