After recently terminating production of LCD panels, Samsung Display has now sold all of its patents related to LCD technology to TCL's manufacturing arm CSoT, according to a report from The Elec.

The transfer signals the effective end of Samsung Display's LCD business, according to Korean newspaper The Elec. Samsung Display has transferred all of its 2000+ patents related to LCD technology.

TCL's manufacturing arm CSoT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology) meanwhile will get more firepower to defend its position as one of the world's largest manufacturers of LCD panels.

TCL takes the lead in LCD
After Samsung Display began to reduce LCD output and eventually quit the LCD market in June 2022, Samsung Electronics – the maker of consumer products including TV – was forced to source LCD panels for its "QLED" TVs and other models from other manufacturers including CSoT, AU Optronics, Innolux and BOE. Samsung Electronics currently sells only a single non-LCD TV model (S95B QD-OLED).

The shift in power balance from South Korea to China has put TCL at the forefront of LCD TV development. For example, TCL was first to introduce LCD TVs with a miniLED backlight in 2019. Samsung introduced its first miniLED LCD TVs in 2021 with the "Neo QLED" series.

OLED TV panels, however, are still mass-produced exclusively by South Korean companies, LG Display and Samsung Display. The latter is expected to increase QD-OLED production later this year. Samsung Display is also the leading manufacturer of mobile OLED panels.

- Source: The Elec