Dispute over patents for LEDs now resolved:

Patent cross licence agreement between Osram Opto Semiconductors and Nichia

REGENSBURG, Germany - On June 24, 2002 a patent dispute that Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH and Nichia Corporation had been conducting in Japan, the USA and Europe was resolved with the signing of a patent cross licence agreement. The agreement relates to the rights to GaN / InGaN based opto-semiconductors.

The matter in question is the basic technology for the industrial manufacture of, above all, light emitting diodes and lasers made from GaN / InGaN based semiconductors and also the use of phosphor converters to generate white light in particular.

"We are sure that both partners will profit from this agreement as the patent dispute had brought an air of uncertainty to the market", said Dr. Rüdiger Müller, CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors.

Backlighting for displays in mobile phones and car dashboards for example is a typical application for white LEDs. Osram Opto Semiconductors has a long experience with this technology. "We have built up a very strong position in the white LED business over the years and have a good deal of intellectual property at our disposal", added Dr. Müller.

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are much smaller than conventional lamps, consume less power and last longer.

About Osram Opto Semiconductors
Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH of Regensburg is a wholly owned subsidiary of Osram, one of the three largest lamp manufacturers in the world. It offers its customers solutions based on semiconductor technology for lighting, sensor and visualisation applications. The company has sites in Regensburg (Germany), San José (USA) and Penang (Malaysia). In the 2001 fiscal year (ending in September), around 4000 employees produced sales of EUR 329 million. Further information: www.osram-os.com.

Press contact:

OSRAM

Christian Bölling
Tel: +49-89-6213-2597
Fax: +49-89-6213-3457
Email: c.boelling@osram.com