Intellectual property: ams OSRAM and Nichia sign broad patent cross-license agreement 

Regensburg, Germany and Tokushima, Japan (16 October 2025) – ams OSRAM and Nichia have expanded their long-standing collaboration in the field of intellectual property (IP). Aldo Kamper, CEO of ams-OSRAM AG, and Hiroyoshi Ogawa, President of Nichia Corporation, signed a comprehensive cross-license agreement covering thousands of patent-protected innovations in LED and laser technologies.

The agreement grants both companies mutual access to each other’s patents for nitride LED and laser components and, for the first time, also covers sophisticated LED packages and LED modules, such as matrix headlamps. The move aims to strengthen the industry-leading IP protection both companies offer to their customers. 

ams OSRAM and Nichia have invested heavily in R&D over decades. With the new patent cross-license agreement, they offer customers enhanced IP safety when using products based on their patented technologies. Both companies have a long history of cross-license agreements, which started in 2002 and continued through today, with an update in 2010. The new agreement covers R&D results from the last 15 years.

“In an industry driven by innovation, intellectual property is the foundation of trust and long-term value. Unfortunately, we continue to see LED and laser products entering the market that do not meet essential IP standards. Together with Nichia, we encourage customers to scrutinize claims of IP compliance and to choose partners holding a unique IP position like ams OSRAM and Nichia”, emphasizes Aldo Kamper, CEO of ams OSRAM.

“As the two global leaders in the LED and laser industry, Nichia and ams OSRAM have renewed the most comprehensive and robust cross-licensing agreement in the sector. Customers who select products from Nichia or ams OSRAM benefit from extensive patent protection, ensuring confidence in their business activities. Standing together, we will continue to safeguard the market’s integrity by encouraging respect for intellectual property throughout our industry”, says Hiroyoshi Ogawa, President of Nichia.

About Nichia: 

Having “Ever Researching for a Brighter World” as a motto, Nichia takes great pride in being the technology leader and the world’s largest LED and laser diode manufacturer.

Founded in 1956 as a specialty chemical producer, Nichia quickly became the leader in luminescent materials (phosphors). Nichia later developed and commercialized the first high-brightness blue LED in 1993 and the first white LED in 1996. Additional nitride-based LEDs in various colors were developed, including ultraviolet and visible laser diodes. Nichia believes that its products will remain at the forefront of energy-efficient solutions throughout the world for years to come.