FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

January 12, 2006

Commission File Number 001-31335

AU Optronics Corp.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

No. 1 Li-Hsin Road 2
Hsinchu Science Park
Hsinchu, Taiwan
(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  X   Form 40-F ___

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
____

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
____





Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ___ No   X  

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
Not applicable






INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Item   
   
1. Press release entitled, “AU Optronics and Samaung Electronics sign patent cross license agreement”, dated January 12, 2006.
 






Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

  AU Optronics Corp.
     
     
Date: January 12, 2006 By: /s/ Max Weishun Cheng                
    Name: Max Weishun Cheng
    Title: Chief Financial Officer





Item 1

News Release

AU OPTRONICS AND SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS

SIGN PATENT CROSS LICENSE AGREEMENT

Issued by: AU Optronics Corp.
Issued on: January 12, 2006

Hsinchu, Taiwan, January 12, 2006 –

     AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today announced that AUO and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (hereafter Samsung) have signed a broad patent cross-license agreement to allow expanded access to the patent portfolios each company holds. The agreement is a significant expansion of the companies’ relationship to enhance the development and delivery of innovative digital consumer electronics products by sharing each other’s respective technologies.

     The coverage of the cross license includes patents in the area of TFT-LCD and OLED, especially the technology for LCD TV application. AUO and Samsung expect the agreement to bolster the development and deployment of TFT-LCD technology in the LCD TV, giving a new catalyst to strengthen the competitiveness of the two companies.

     Samsung is a world-renowned consumer electronics company and both AUO and Samsung are leading TFT-LCD manufacturers. Both companies have invested heavily in research and development of flat panel display technology. As of 2005, AUO owns over 1,700 patents worldwide, with over 3,300 patent applications pending. AUO ranks as one of the top companies in the number of patent applications filed in Taiwan during the past few years. With the sharing of each other’s patents, AUO and Samsung believe this to be an opportunity for further technological and business cooperation.

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ABOUT AU OPTRONICS


2

AU Optronics Corp. (“AUO”) is the world’s third largest manufacturer* of large-size thin film transistor liquid crystal display panels (“TFT-LCD”), with approximately 13.6%* of global market share and generated revenue of NT$217.4billion (US$6.75 bn)* in 2005. TFT-LCD technology is currently the most widely used flat panel display technology. Targeted for 40”+ sized LCD TV panels, AUO’s next generation (7.5 -Generation ) fabrication facility production is scheduled for mass production in 4Q 2006. The Company currently operates one 6th-generation, three 5th-generation, one 4th-generation, and three 3.5 -generation TFT- LCD fabs, in addition to four module assembly facilities and a R&D fab specializing in low temperature poly silicon TFT and organic LED. AUO is one of few top-tier TFT-LCD manufacturer capable of offering a wide range of small- to large- size (1.5” -46”) TFT-LCD panels, which enables it to offer a broad and diversified product portfolio.


*As shown on DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT-LCD Shipment Report dated Dec 2, 2005. This data is used as reference only and AUO does not make any endorsement or representation in connection therewith. 2005 year end revenue converted by an exchange rate of NTD32.2039:USD1.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Yawen Hsiao
Corporate Communications Dept.
AU Optronics Corp.
No.1, Li-Hsin Road 2, Science-Based Industrial Park,
Hsinchu City, 300, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: +886-3-5008899 ext 3211
Fax: +886-3-5772730    Email:yawenhsiao@auo.com