Taiwanese TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) panel maker HannStar Display announced on January 18 that the company has signed a patent cross-licensing deal with Japan's Sharp on January 17, 2008. Effect of the contract covers the period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011, Taiwan's Economic Daily News reported.

The new five-year contract is deemed the renewal of the cross-licensing deal between the two companies ending as of year-end 2006. Sharp and HannStar's cross-licensing agreement - which originally covered merely the use of small- and medium-sized LCD patents for monitors and laptop PCs - extends to include flat-panel televisions as well in the new contract.

As the new contract has been backdated to the beginning of 2007, the two companies' previous disputes over patent-infringing issues are expected to dissolve as a result. Financial terms of the new contract have not been disclosed, though.