Samsung Display and BOE Lay Down Arms in OLED Dispute

Samsung Display and BOE Technology have reached a sweeping settlement in a dispute over OLED patents and trade secrets, ending an acrimonious three-year fight that had the potential to upend the smartphone display supply chain. The agreement is set to end multiple investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission and relieve some pressure on two of Apple’s biggest screen suppliers.

What the Truce Probably Means for Both Companies

Although the companies did not reveal terms, settlements in complex display suits typically involve licensing agreements and pledges about hiring and managing information. An industry observer claims that a royalty-bearing agreement is “possible” based on previous decisions in favor of Samsung and considering the strategic purpose of both firms for restoring order to activities prior to next-generation OLED ramp-ups.

Both companies provide OLED panels for premium smartphones, including iPhones. A negotiated departure spares the companies a lengthy legal shadow over design wins, production planning, and pricing regarding 2026 devices — at which point panel allocations are often decided months ahead.

Why the ITC Fight Was Important to OLED Suppliers

Samsung Display brought its first ITC action in 2022 accusing BOE of infringing foundational OLED patents. In its 2025 determination, the Commission found violations of three Samsung patents. In another trade secrets case, an administrative law judge in 2025 ruled that BOE had stolen confidential manufacturing know-how; he recommended banning U.S. imports of BOE OLED panels for almost 15 years.

An exclusion order for that duration would have been unparalleled for a leading panel maker and could disrupt handset brands’ multi-sourcing risk management, the ITC indicated. Closing the case before a permanent ban is imposed preserves flexibility for device manufacturers and saves BOE from a prolonged hiatus in the U.S. market.

Apple and the OLED Supply Chain Implications of Truce

Apple’s display sourcing strategy is designed to mitigate cost, advancement, and redundancy between Samsung Display, BOE, and LG Display. As OLEDs spread from phones to tablets and laptops, supply stability is a concern. A settlement lowers the probability of supply shocks, maintains competitive pricing and yield tension, and ensures timelines remain on track for LTPO, tandem OLED, and advanced optical enhancements like micro-lens arrays.

Analysts from research firms including Omdia and DSCC have noted Samsung’s long-term leadership in small- and mid-size OLED, while BOE has been consistently increasing output from Chinese flexible OLED lines. With a cleared legal runway, both can pursue high-volume awards without the overhang of a U.S. import block.

The IP Backdrop and Talent Risks in Display Manufacturing

The dispute also underscores growing worries about protecting intellectual property in display manufacturing. Madhavareddy, who is due to be sentenced in September, faces up to 10 years in prison on charges based on information that he stole proprietary data from Agassi’s secretive company and shared it with the carmaker. A former Samsung Display engineer was recently sentenced by a South Korean court to six years for leaking OLED technology worth about $24.5 million to a Chinese firm. Meanwhile, South Korean police have been probing alleged leaking of proprietary display technology by LG Display staff. These are examples of how essential — and portable — OLED stack design, encapsulation, and yield-tuning process knowledge have become.

For global suppliers, that makes the stakes even higher on hiring from rivals and third-party module partners and equipment vendors. Look for tighter audit trails, sterner clean-room access protocols, and broader non-solicitation and training obligations to become standard in future cross-border deals.

Strategic Considerations for the Display Industry

For one, the settlement reflects pragmatism: both sides stand to gain more from predictable access to lucrative smartphone programs than from a court win that might slam a door on access to the U.S. market.

It also demonstrates the utility of patents as bargaining chips; the ITC’s decision and the possibility of long exclusion orders almost certainly concentrated minds.

Finally, it preserves competition at a time when demand for OLEDs is moving toward larger sizes. While brands introduce foldable, tablet-grade tandem stacks and high-luminance laptop panels, more qualified suppliers ensure innovation cycles stay fast and pricing contained — dynamics that ultimately benefit consumers as well as device makers.

What to Watch Next as the OLED Truce Takes Effect

Key mileposts, if and when they come, include:

• ITC formal terminations of investigations
• Any disclosures regarding licensing terms or royalty flows
• Possible procurement splits for next-generation iPhones entering development and Android flagships

Also keep an eye on progress of new OLED lines in China and Korea, where yield gains and material sets can rapidly alter cost curves.

For now, the truce extinguishes a major uncertainty concerning one of the most critical components in consumer electronics. This leaves litigation behind and allows Samsung Display and BOE to focus on the competition that matters — winning based on performance, reliability, and scale.