Cree Inc. said Tuesday it has filed patent infringement lawsuits against Harvatek Corp. and Kingbright Corp. in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

"These patents, among other things, protect Cree's LED component portfolio, including Cree's white light LEDs," North Carolina-based Cree said in a statement.

LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are semiconductor devices that produce visible light when an electrical current is passed through them, according to Energy Star.

Neither Harvatek nor Kingbright could be reached immediately for comment.

Cree said it has filed the lawsuit in Wisconsin because that's where a large portion of its LED business segment is located.

Cree has a significant presence in Wisconsin in part because of Cree's 2001 acquisition of Sturtevant-based Ruud Lighting. "Wisconsin is home to many of our LED design, development and manufacturing facilities...," the company said in an email.

"These cases demonstrate that Cree will continue to take the necessary measures worldwide to protect our patents and other intellectual property rights against any company that infringes our patents," Brad Kohn, Cree general counsel, said in a statement.

By: DocMemory
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