April 28, 2025
Signify and Keystone End Patent Fight
Undisclosed settlement reached in dispute over eight LED technology patents
In a quiet conclusion to a case that drew significant attention within the commercial lighting sector, Signify and Keystone Technologies have formally ended their patent dispute. On April 25, 2025, the two companies jointly filed to dismiss the case with prejudice in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, bringing a definitive end to litigation that began nearly a year earlier.
The settlement comes two months after the parties first reported reaching an agreement in principle. On February 20, 2025, both sides notified the court they had broadly agreed to terms, but needed additional time to finalize the details. Over the next several weeks, pretrial deadlines were repeatedly postponed as negotiations continued.
While the litigation is now closed, the terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Each side will bear its own legal costs, a move that often signals a mutually acceptable resolution rather than a clear winner.
Signify, the world's largest lighting manufacturer, originally filed suit against Keystone on May 31, 2024. The complaint alleged that Keystone infringed on eight of Signify’s patents covering LED driver circuits, configurable lighting systems, downlights, and lamps. Specifically, Signify cited Keystone’s XFIT Area Light, Aviva Retrofit Downlights, and SmartDrive LED Lamps as infringing products. The claims included allegations of willful and deliberate infringement dating back to 2020.
In the years leading up to the litigation, Signify had extended multiple invitations to Keystone to join its EnabLED licensing program, which offers manufacturers access to a broad portfolio of LED technology patents. According to Signify’s original complaint, those invitations went unanswered — a backdrop that ultimately made Keystone’s cited products a target in the infringement suit.
The case initially began in the Northern District of Georgia, where Signify tried to establish venue based on Keystone’s sales activities and relationships in the Atlanta area. However, after Keystone successfully argued that it lacked a "regular and established place of business" in Georgia, the lawsuit was transferred to Pennsylvania, Keystone’s home turf, in December 2024.
The dismissal with prejudice closes the door on future claims over the same patents and products between these parties. While the broader terms of the deal remain under wraps, the resolution spares both companies a costly and unpredictable path through discovery, expert battles and a potential jury trial.
