Samsung reduced BOE’s share of its LCD TV-panel orders in 2022 after a reported dispute over an approximately ₩100 billion advertising-related payment. The move was a shift in supplier mix, not a halt to LCD buying: industry estimates put Samsung’s total LCD orders up that year even as BOE’s share fell. The story has since taken a separate turn through OLED litigation and reports of renewed LCD-supply discussions.
What was the 2022 royalty dispute about?
BOE was a significant supplier of LCD panels for Samsung Electronics’ TV business. In a July 15, 2022 report, The Elec said Samsung sought approximately ₩100 billion from BOE in connection with advertising or marketing rights tied to BOE presenting itself as a Samsung supplier. The report, citing unnamed sources, said BOE declined and Samsung then reduced BOE’s share of its TV-panel orders.
Calling this an LCD technology royalty would be misleading. The reported payment concerned commercial promotion or supplier branding—not a fee for BOE’s use of Samsung’s LCD technology. It was also distinct from later OLED patent royalties discussed in connection with a separate legal settlement.
Did Samsung reduce its total LCD purchases?
Not according to the industry estimates reported at the time. Omdia-based figures cited by Android Headlines put Samsung’s total LCD TV-panel orders at about 47.8 million units in 2021 and 53.8 million in 2022, an increase of roughly 13%. BOE’s estimated share fell from about 17% to 13% over the same period.
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| Supplier or total | 2021 estimate | 2022 estimate | What the figures suggest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung total LCD-panel orders | About 47.8 million units | About 53.8 million units | Total procurement increased |
| BOE share | About 17% | About 13% | BOE lost share of a larger order pool |
| CSOT share | About 20% | About 21% | Small estimated gain |
| HKC share | About 15% | About 20% | Larger estimated gain |
These are Omdia-based industry estimates, not procurement totals disclosed by Samsung. The figures indicate reallocation away from BOE, not that Samsung stopped buying from the company or necessarily cut BOE’s absolute shipments. The same reporting identified CSOT, HKC, Sharp and LG Display as other suppliers; it did not quantify changes for Sharp or LG Display.
Why Samsung still needed outside LCD suppliers
Samsung Electronics’ TV operation continued to need LCD panels even though Samsung Display exited LCD production in 2022, as later reported by The Elec. By the mid-2020s, industry coverage described Samsung Electronics as sourcing LCD panels from Chinese manufacturers after Samsung Display and LG Display left the global LCD business.
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That left Samsung balancing price, available capacity, quality, continuity and bargaining power across external suppliers. Diversification could reduce dependence on any one vendor, but switching from one Chinese producer to another would not remove Samsung’s broader reliance on Chinese LCD manufacturing. CSOT also presents a strategic wrinkle: its parent, TCL, competes with Samsung in finished TVs, a concern discussed in Seoul Economic Daily coverage.
How a separate OLED dispute followed
The 2022 advertising-related disagreement and the later OLED case involved different products, entities and legal issues. Samsung Electronics’ TV business buys LCD panels; Samsung Display pursued OLED patent and trade-secret claims against BOE. The cases should not be treated as one continuous royalty dispute.
- December 2022: Samsung Display filed an ITC complaint concerning BOE OLED panels and patents.
- October 2023: Samsung Display filed a separate trade-secret complaint.
- 2025: ITC proceedings produced findings favorable to Samsung Display, including a preliminary finding of trade-secret misappropriation. Reporting also described a preliminary limited exclusion order that contemplated barring certain BOE OLED-panel imports into the United States for 14 years and eight months. That was a preliminary proceeding, not a verified final blanket ban.
- November 2025: Samsung Display and BOE settled and agreed to withdraw pending legal actions, according to Yonhap and TechCrunch.
Reports said the settlement included BOE royalty payments to Samsung Display, but the precise financial terms were not publicly disclosed in the cited coverage. Those reported OLED-related royalties should not be confused with the marketing payment at issue in 2022.
Why reports now point to more BOE LCD supply
The later settlement appears to have coincided with improving commercial engagement, although it does not establish that every supply or business issue was resolved. In December 2025, BOE’s chairman met Samsung executives and the companies discussed expanding LCD supply for Samsung’s TV business, according to Yonhap. The Elec reported that BOE offered more than 20 million LCD panels across 2026–2028 (report).
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A June 2026 report said BOE’s shipments to Samsung could rise toward approximately 5 million panels in 2026 (ETNews). These are industry-source reports and estimates, not confirmed Samsung procurement guidance or audited order disclosures. They point toward possible growth from recent low-to-mid-million volumes, not proof of a guaranteed shipment total.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the supplier shift means
Samsung’s 2022 decision illustrates the leverage and limits of a large buyer. Cutting a supplier’s allocation can communicate dissatisfaction and redirect business, but it works only if alternatives can meet the buyer’s volume, cost and delivery needs. In a concentrated LCD market, Samsung must weigh those constraints against supplier bargaining power and the risks of relying heavily on a manufacturer linked to a finished-TV competitor.
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The later OLED litigation added a distinct legal and technology risk to the relationship, while the settlement and reported LCD negotiations suggest commercial pragmatism can coexist with serious disputes. The clearest reading is that Samsung’s 2022 move was a targeted reallocation after a marketing-related disagreement—not a permanent boycott—and recent reporting indicates the companies are again exploring a larger LCD supply relationship.
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