On April 21, 2020 (U.S. time), Sharp Corporation (hereinafter “Sharp”) filed a patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (the “ITC”) to initiate an investigation under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, against Xianyang CaiHong Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd (“CHOT”), TPV Technology Limited and its subsidiaries (“TPV”), and VIZIO, Inc. The ITC typically decides institution within 30 days.

The complaint asserts that the liquid crystal displays (“LCD”) manufactured by CHOT, as well as activities by TPV and its subsidiaries, infringe one or more claims of five asserted patents owned by Sharp: U.S. Patent No. 7,245,329; 7,372,533; 8,022,912; 8,451,204; and 8,847,863. The asserted patents relate to Polymer Sustained Alignment, thin-film transistor and wide viewing angle technologies for LCD devices.

Sharp is asking the ITC to institute an investigation into the infringement of the patents, and to issue a limited exclusion order barring infringing CHOT products and products using CHOT panels from entry into the United States, and a cease and desist order preventing CHOT from advertising and selling infringing products in the United States, until Sharp’s patents expire.

Sharp has and continues to make substantial investments–—including countless hours by its employees in the United States–—developing and furthering the LCD technologies used in the marketplace. For more than 40 years, Sharp has been recognized as a pioneering innovator and has been awarded more than 10,000 display patents in the United States, Japan and China, covering core display technologies.