Samsung flexible display technology has been seen throughout the years in everything from the S7 Edge to the current Galaxy Note9. The same Samsung flexible display technology is also coming to the company’s latest folding smartphone/tablet concept. The company has been developing flexible display technology for years, and now South Korean prosecutors have indicted nine people for leaking Samsung’s hard work.
The nine are accused of leaking Samsung flexible display technology to a Chinese company, selling information pertaining to OLED panels. The accused are not employees of Samsung, rather they come from a Samsung supplier. They include the CEO and eight employees. All are accused of forming a shell company that took the stolen Samsung technology obtained from Samsung Display and selling it for 15.5 billion won ($13.85 million).
Toptec, which produces automated equipment to make mobile phone display panels, denied any wrongdoing.
“Our company has never provided Samsung Display’s industrial technology or business secrets to a Chinese client. Our company will fully cooperate with legal proceedings to find the truth in court,” Toptec said in a statement.
A Samsung Display spokesman said the indictment was “regrettable” and that the firm would increase efforts to protect technology.
South Korean prosecutors say Samsung Display has invested 150 billion won into Samsung flexible display technology over the past six years. Samsung says the technology that was leaked was a “national core technology.” The technology involves 3D lamination of the company’s OLED panels which helps in making them flexible.
Samsung makes their own OLED displays but also supplies other smartphone makers such as Apple with these displays. The company will be selling their first folding smartphone sometime in March 2019 with a speculated price of $1,700 – $2,000USD.
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Last Updated on February 3, 2021.
