经济观察报·2025-08-15 15:48Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing legal battles initiated by Corning Inc. against several leading Chinese companies in the new display industry, highlighting the implications for the industry and the potential risks to China's market position due to patent and intellectual property disputes [2][4][20]. Group 1: Legal Actions and Investigations - As of mid-August this year, Corning has initiated a total of 13 lawsuits related to patents and intellectual property against Chinese companies such as Rainbow Technology, TCL Huaxing Optoelectronics, and HKC in various regions including the US, EU, India, and China [2][4]. - The critical date for evidence submission in the "337 investigation" by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) is set for August 8, 2025, marking a significant point in the legal proceedings [2][8]. - Corning has filed two applications for "337 investigations" against Chinese companies within a short span from late 2024 to early 2025, accusing them of infringing on its patents and trade secrets in the glass substrate sector [6][10]. Group 2: Industry Context and Market Dynamics - The display industry chain is divided into three segments: glass substrates (upstream), liquid crystal panels (midstream), and electronic displays (downstream), with downstream applications in TVs, smartphones, computers, and automotive displays [3]. - China currently accounts for approximately half of the global display panel output value and over 70% of the shipment volume, having invested over 1.5 trillion yuan to establish more than 60 production lines with an annual capacity of about 250 million square meters [4][14]. - Despite this growth, around 90% of the glass substrate market is dominated by Corning and two Japanese companies, with Rainbow Technology being the only Chinese firm to recently overcome the technical barriers of the 8.5-generation production line [4][12]. Group 3: Implications of the Legal Battles - The ongoing legal disputes are seen as a significant threat to the Chinese display industry's future, as the outcome could determine the ability of Chinese companies to maintain their market share and technological advancements [12][20]. - The legal actions initiated by Corning are perceived as efforts to restrict the production capacity of Chinese firms, which have recently begun to challenge the long-standing technological monopoly held by multinational corporations [13][21]. - The article emphasizes the importance of intellectual property rights in the glass substrate market, as both Corning and Rainbow Technology utilize similar manufacturing processes, making the protection of patents crucial for competitive advantage [16][18].