Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. v. SFC Co. Ltd.

Idemitsu’s patent, titled “Organic Electroluminescence Device and Organic Light Emitting Medium,” claims a device containing a particular organic medium layered between an anode and cathode; when a voltage is applied through the electrodes, the organic medium emits light. On inter partes review of all claims, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board held that all instituted claims were obvious, 35 U.S.C. 103 finding in particular that: the patent's formula compounds correspond to those in a prior reference and that the prior reference teaches that a light emitting layer can be formed by combining those compounds. The Federal Circuit affirmed. The Board reasonably concluded that the prior reference teaches that a light-producing device can be made—regardless of comparative shortcomings in durability or resistance caused by imperfect energy gap ratio—by combining the compounds, including the claimed combinations, as the critical layer. View "Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. v. SFC Co. Ltd." on Justia Law