Samsung LED launches patent countersuit against Osram

SEOUL, June 12 (Reuters) - Samsung LED said on Sunday it had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Osram Korea Co. and two other Korean sales agents of German lightbulb maker Osram at a Seoul district court.

Samsung LED said in a statement the lawsuit was in response to a patent suit brought against it by Osram.

The eight patents-in-suit relate to light emitting diodes (LED) chip and package technology used in LED light lenses and high power applications, the joint venture led by Samsung Electronics and Sumitomo Chemical said.

Siemens (SIEGn.DE) said on June 6 its lightbulb unit Osram was suing its two Korean rivals, Samsung and LG groups of companies, in four countries including the United States, for alleged infringement of patents on LED technology.

Osram is the world's No.2 lighting company after Philips (PHG.AS) and ahead of General Electric Co (GE.N).

"The Korean suit is Samsung LED's first response to Osram's initiation of lawsuits against Samsung LED in the U.S. and Germany," Samsung said.

Samsung LED claims it currently has about 700 U.S. patents and patent applications and about 2,000 Korean patents and patent applications.

LEDs are electronic semiconductor devices that emit light and are more energy efficient. (Reporting by Sung-won Shim; Editing by Ron Popeski)