Sharp Selling Panels To Major Competitors
The article tracks recent business dealings by Sharp with the likes of Sony, Sanyo, Pioneer and Toshiba. Sharp will sell panels to these companies. Sharp is also suing Samsung over LCD patent infringement. Samsung filed countersuit against Sharp according to AudioHolics.
As far as my thoughts are concerned, this is quite interesting news even though most manufacturers don't exclusively produce their own panel anyway. They often sell to and buy from other manufacturers. But, you just don't see this type of movement from one manufacturer in such a short time, especially when the companies involved are direct rivals.
We'll just have to see how the competition for new technologies will grow or shrink as a result of these arrangements or if other manufacturers will enter into a similar consortium to compete against the Sharp panels. For what its worth, I don't believe this will impact back end technology for the companies involved.