German firm Osram files LED lawsuit against LG, Samsung

German lighting group Osram said Monday it has filed a complaint in South Korea against industrial giants LG and Samsung for patent violations, a move it has already taken in four other countries.

Osram, a unit of the German industrial group Siemens, says the two South Korean companies have violated patents on LED lighting, now commonly used in television sets and computer display screens.

"We respect the property rights of other companies and expect the same from other market participants," a statement quoted Aldo Kamper, chief executive of Osram Opto Semiconductors, as saying.

The German company is seeking a ban on products that use contested LEDs, along with damages and interest.

It also hopes to have patents filed by LG and Samsung nullified.

Osram has filed similar lawsuits in China, Germany, Japan and the United States.