Katarzyna Petru
The District Court in Munich has issued a verdict that could shake up the television market across Europe. The judges sided with Samsung Electronics' lawsuit, ruling that TCL employed unfair market practices. The Chinese manufacturer promoted selected models as QLED televisions, even though their design did not provide measurable benefits stemming from quantum dot technology.
No measurable improvement in image quality
The court found that models such as QLED870 were advertised in a way that could mislead consumers. Although QLED technology – according to the definition by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) – should be based on a layer of quantum dots that improve brightness and colour reproduction, in the case of the disputed TCL models, the impact of these materials on image quality was insignificant. Expert assessments showed that the manufacturer used only trace amounts of Quantum Dot materials, which did not result in a reliable improvement in colour reproduction. As a result, the use of the label "QLED" was deemed a violation of the German Act Against Unfair Competition.
PFS vs Quantum Dot: What's the Difference?
The main point of contention is the backlighting technology. While classic QLED TVs utilise blue LEDs and a special film with quantum dots that generate pure primary colours when activated, TCL in the disputed models opted for cheaper PFS filters primarily based on phosphorus.
You can see this in our measurements in the TV tests. In the "Matrix Details" section:
While in our tests the differences in colour reproduction or colour gamut coverage (DCI-P3) between the two technologies are often marginal and difficult to detect with the naked eye, for specialists and regulatory bodies the difference is substantial. According to industry experts, screens based on quantum dots differ from phosphor filters not only in their impact on image quality but also in the way raw materials are extracted, disposal, and their better impact on living organisms.
This isn't the only war Samsung vs TCL
The ruling in the QLED case is not the only issue for TCL. A German court also ordered the withdrawal of the trademark “NXT Frame”, stating that it too closely resembles Samsung's registered trademark The Frame. As a result, TCL had to change the naming of these screens to NXT Vision.
For some time now, Samsung has been conducting an aggressive campaign against Chinese competitors. At the end of last year, the company released a video titled “Real QLED: The Clown Behind It All | Samsung”, in which it openly questions the technological credibility of its rivals' products.
Source: own, koreaherald
