Smoke and flame shot from Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epistar’s plant in Northern Taiwan last night. The source of the fire was located at the waste water tank next to the parking lot at B2 (second level in the basement) in the company’s N3 plant. The fire started at around 6 PM and was soon under control. There were zero casualties, no one was wounded. The fire has no impact on the company finances and sales.

Leading Taiwanese LED epiwafer manufacturer revenues dropped 12% YoY to NT $1.64 billion (US$ 50.63 million), the lowest revenue reported over the last three years, according to a report from Taiwanese media Money DJ earlier this week.

Taiwan’s largest LED die manufacturer Epistar has filed a patent infringement complaint against Epileds in Taiwan’s courts for selling infringing products to downstream suppliers, the company announced in a recent press release.

LED filament bulbs is an emerging product on the market that holds great market potential, with high visibility in the Middle East, Americas and Europe. It is also one of the most important lighting products in the Asian manufacturing supply chain. For instance, Taiwanese LED manufacturer Epistar currently holds crucial LED patents that comprise the core technology in LED filament bulbs. In an exclusive interview with Epistar managers and directors including Alexandar Wang, Director of the company’s Marketing Center Segment Group, the company’s Intellectual Property Division Meng-chun Kuo, Director, and Walter K.Y. Chou, Manager of the company’s Intellectual Property Department III, these managers revealed LED filament bulb market’s latest trends, technology development, and patent strategy deployment.

Taiwan’s largest LED manufacturer Epistar has sold its Duxing factory in Hsinchu Science Park to IC design manufacturer Mediatek for NT$ 736 million (US $21.98 million), reported CNA.

Shortly after Epistar held its board meeting on Monday, numerous reports from Taiwanese media claimed the company was about to be merged. MLS, Philips and even Lumileds were named by speculators as potential buyers, following the reports Epistar’s shares climbed up to NT $29.5 (US $0.88) per share, reported TechNews. However, Epistar Spokesman Rider Chang has denied all these claims.

The LED lighting industry outlook for invisible LED business opportunities has been increasingly optimistic, with many international and Taiwanese companies jumping in this new blue sea market. Japanese, Korean, European and American manufacturers are all developing UV LEDs for curing, sterilization, medical, water and air purification systems. Security, retina recognition markets that require IR LED, are also presenting new business and technology opportunities for LED companies specializing in these fields.

Chinese LED maker MLS as a potential acquisition of Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epistar has become the latest gossip in Taiwan’s LED industry. Following the market rumors, the LED chip maker’s shares have soared, giving the LED stock market a major boost. Market rumors claim Chinese manufacturers potential investments in Taiwanese companies have allowed local LED enterprises to reevaluate their market value. However, LEDinside interviews with local market research companies noted the chances of MLS acquiring Epistar was fairly low, and the Chinese company’s current focus was mostly directed towards bidding Osram’s lighting business.

Epistar has come a long way from its foundation in 1996 to become one of the largest players in Taiwan’s LED industry, mergers and acquisitions played a significant role in the process of building up the company. The company Chairman B.J. Lee shared some insights on the company’s business strategies at the 2015 Pan Wen Yuan Prize Award Ceremony on Monday, which took place at the Shangri-La Hotel in Taipei.

The LED backlight industry might still experience an exceptionally cool season in 2016, but breakthroughs are expected in the tube light replacement market, said Epistar Chairman B.J.Lee at the 2015 Pan Wen Yuan Prize Award Ceremony at the Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan earlier today.

A Massachusetts federal jury in U.S. has decided recently, Epistar, Everlight Electronics and Lite-on need to compensate $ 13.7 million to Boston University (BU)for willfully infringing LED patents, reported Law360.

Left bleeding from price wars over the past few years, LED manufacturers are seeking alternative markets and restructuring business strategies. Epistar for instance is looking into niche markets including GaN power devices and specialized lighting, said Carson Hsieh,Vice President, R&D Center,Epistar during his presentation at LEDforum 2015, which took place recently at Room 201, National Taiwan University Hospital International Convention Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

UBS forecasted oversupply situation in the LED industry will continue into 2016, while sliding LED prices will nullify growing shipment volume advantages, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.

Leading Taiwanese LED manufacturer Epistar has acquired nearly 10% stake in Malaysian LED manufacturer Dominant OptoTechnologies, according to a latest report from Chinese-language media UDN.

Everlight Chairman Robert Yeh recently refuted market rumors in Taiwan claiming the company’s decision to use Chinese manufacturers LED chips in its products has impacted Epistar’s revenue performance, according to a UDN report.

Leading LED chip manufacturer Epistar’s has raised the number of job cuts from the previously announced 65 to about 180, reported UDN.

Taiwan’s LED industry was affected by China’s supply chain, even top LED chip manufacturer Epistar has announced plans of slashing jobs as part of its restructure process, reported UDN recently.

Top Taiwanese LED manufacturers Everlight and Epistar revenues for second quarter of 2015 were impacted by trending low LED prices on the market, according to a China Times report.

Cree and Epistar announced on Aug. 4, 2015, the two companies signed a global LED patent cross license agreement. The move signals large LED manufacturers strategy of maintaining market positions through patent advantages, said LEDinside analysts.

Cree and Epistar have signed a worldwide patent cross-license agreement for LED chips to further advance the growth of the LED lighting and LED bulb markets. Cree and Epistar both hold broad and substantial LED chip patent portfolios that are important for making blue LEDs, the foundation of white LEDs found in most lighting products manufactured worldwide. Under the terms of the agreement, each party receives a license to the other’s nitride LED chip patents and is granted certain rights to non-nitride LED chip patents. Over the term of the agreement, Cree will receive a licensing fee and royalty payments from Epistar.

Epistar will be reaping benefits from China Electronics Corporation (CEC) acquisition of leading U.S. LED manufacturer Bridgelux, said Roger Chu, Research Director of LEDinside.

Epistar announced it has granted license to LEEDARSON LIGHTING to use Epistar’s filament patents in its products. Epistar holds key intellectual property regarding the LED filament technology used in making LED filament style lamps. This patent portfolio covers Taiwan, China, U.S., Europe and other territories.

Go Scale Capital’s ultimate motive for acquiring Lumileds is to list the LED chip company on the Chinese bourse, a Commercial Times report cited Epistar Chairman B.J. Lee saying at a recent company shareholder meeting.

LED market underperformed in 2Q15, due to waning backlight market during the quarter and cutthroat pricing competition in the lighting market, a CNA report cited Epistar Chairman B.J. Lee saying.

Epistar keeps building innovating products and technologies and continues to bolster its global IP position. In addition, Epistar strives to strengthen the value of its Co-activation Service.

Top Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epistar has been aggressive in its patent strategies, and has acquired key LED filament bulb patents to build up its core advantages, reported Liberty Times recently.

LED manufacturers have announced their revenues for April lately, with Taiwanese LED chip and package manufacturers Epistar and Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) performance outshone other competitors, reported China Times.

Edison Opto and Epistar have jointly won a 10 million LED bulb Indian government contract valuing NT $300 million (US $9.77 million), according to an UDN report.

In two separate company statements released yesterday, Epistar board approved fully integrating TSMC Solid State Lighting (元芯光电), and non-public issuance of 165 million company shares to raise capital.

Epistar Chairman B.J. Lee upheld a positive outlook for the LED industry in 2Q15, following surging orders in May, reported UDN.