Litigation News

A U.S. jury in the Eastern District of Texas ordered Samsung Electronics to pay $445.5 million for infringing four wireless network patents owned by Collision Communications Inc., a New Hampshire company. The 2023 lawsuit alleged Samsung Galaxy smartphones and notebooks violated patents originating from research with BAE Systems. Samsung can appeal the verdict, potentially changing the final infringement determination and damages award.

South Korean companies face significant challenges in patent infringement litigation due to evidence collection difficulties. A government survey found 54.9% of 488 companies suffered losses from inadequate evidence in patent cases. LS Electric abandoned a 2019 lawsuit against competitor Y over solar wire patent infringement due to evidence procurement issues. Patent infringement cases average 606 days versus 372 days for general civil suits, with only 14.8% plaintiff success rate. Government considers introducing Korean-style discovery system.

UK Court of Appeal clarified confidentiality rules in FRAND litigation between InterDigital, Optis, and Apple, requiring redaction of licensing terms to prevent commercial harm. High Court rejected Sandoz's fraud allegations against Bayer in damages inquiry. UPC Mannheim granted InterDigital anti-interim-license injunction against Amazon to protect UPC proceedings from UK interference. UPC Court of Appeal revoked Seoul Viosys LED patent for added matter, overturning Düsseldorf decision. UPC Court of Appeal upheld Philips patent against Belkin, clarifying director liability and ordering product recall measures.

Texas jury ordered Samsung Electronics to pay $445.5 million to New Hampshire's Collision Communications for willfully infringing four wireless communication interference reduction patents in Galaxy smartphones, tablets, and laptops. The Eastern District of Texas verdict followed a four-day trial before Judge Gilstrap. Collision alleged Samsung incorporated its patented signal-processing techniques without license despite prior collaboration discussions from 2011-2014. Samsung faces potential enhanced damages up to three times the award.

Leyo Holdings filed suit against Synergy House subsidiary SHF and two manufacturers in Kuala Lumpur High Court, alleging patent and industrial design infringement related to furniture assembly line. Claims total RM2.87 million, with Leyo seeking damages, declarations, and injunctions for alleged breach of October 2023 license agreement. SHF denies allegations and plans vigorous defense including counterclaim. Leyo also filed for interlocutory injunction against manufacturers.

Federal jury in Marshall, Texas ordered Samsung Electronics to pay $445.5 million to Collision Communications for infringing wireless communication patents. The 2023 lawsuit alleged Samsung's Galaxy smartphones, laptops, and wireless products used patented 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi technologies without authorization. Patents originated from BAE Systems defense research and were licensed to Collision Communications. Samsung denied wrongdoing, claiming patents were invalid or not infringed, and plans to appeal the verdict.

A federal jury in Marshall, Texas ordered Samsung Electronics to pay $445.5 million in damages for infringing four wireless communications patents held by Collision Communications. The 2023 lawsuit alleged Samsung's laptops, Galaxy smartphones, and other devices violated patents covering 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi technical standards. The patents originated from BAE Systems research. Samsung denied infringement and challenged patent validity but lost at trial.

Samsung was fined $445.5 million in the US, though specific details about the underlying cause remain unclear. The penalty could stem from patent infringement, antitrust violations, or regulatory non-compliance issues. Given Samsung's prominence in smartphones and semiconductors, such fines typically relate to competitive practices or intellectual property disputes with rivals like Apple. The substantial penalty reflects heightened regulatory scrutiny of tech giants and may impact Samsung's financial performance and competitive strategies.

Taiwan's Supreme Court and Intellectual Property and Commercial Court have adopted the "could-would" approach for determining patent inventive step in recent decisions. The Supreme Court in cases 2024 Tai Shang Zi No. 459 and 453 distinguished between "apparent willingness to attempt" versus "apparent willingness to implement" when combining prior art references. The IPC Court applied this approach in administrative judgment 2024 Xing Zhuan Su Zi No. 49 involving a spiral planer spindle patent, requiring more detailed motivation explanations from invalidation requesters.

Suunto filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Garmin on September 22 covering five patents related to tracking golf shots, measuring respiratory rate, and positioning antennas in watches, seeking only damages. Eight days later, Strava filed its own patent suit against Garmin over two technologies, but primarily as leverage in a dispute over API requirements mandating Garmin logos on activity posts. Both cases involve fitness technology patents between major wearable device and platform companies.