No one ever said developing a new technology would be easy, and it certainly hasn't been a straight road for Universal Display
1: How will the Apple-Samsung battle affect Universal Display?
Apple's
However, many analysts (including Foolish ones) dismiss these fears as overblown. Even if Samsung's offending models are banned from the United States, the ruling doesn't cover other markets, and Samsung is certainly capable of designing around its new restrictions. The long-term impact on Universal's fortunes should be muted, if there's an impact at all.
2: Can Universal Display win without mobile?
Samsung, LG Display
Banking on TVs might not be a great long-term strategy. Corning
3: How much are Universal Display's patents really worth in the long run?
Universal's been busy adding to its patent trove, as it completed an acquisition of 1,200 OLED patents from Fujifilm this summer. It's not the only company with a significant number of patents, as my fellow Fool Anders Bylund points out. LG Display, in addition to working with Universal, also has more than 2,000 OLED-related patents of its own.
OLED patent-holders seem to be a much more collegial bunch than combative smartphone makers, but their technology probably doesn't suffer the same maddening combination of breadth and specificity as smartphone technology. Even so, Universal's had patent issues over the years, with a recent Japanese court decision causing a minor panic this May. Most of Universal's big clients are Asian manufacturers. Will Asian courts laugh at Universal's patent claims when a devious competitor decides to simply copy part of the company's technology instead of licensing it?
The answers to these questions may have profound long-term consequences for Universal Display's future, and it's important for investors to stay on top of the fast-moving world of display technology. Corning's a major display-tech bellwether, which is why The Motley Fool's devoted some of our best industrials analysts to exclusive premium coverage of its major moves and key initiatives. Don't be left behind when this sector goes to light speed -- invest in better knowledge now.