With the BEF accounting for a sizable portion of the cost of making LCDs (20%, according to the article), competition in this market will most certainly drive prices down. Excellent.

"With 3M seeing some of its patents for LCD brightness-enhancement film (BEF) technology expiring, international companies such as GE and Kodak and Taiwan-based companies have begun to target the segment. So, although 3M will remain the dominant player in the near future, industry sources expect the situation to gradually change."