A US federal court jury in Texas has found Samsung Electronics liable for infringing patents related to OLED technology and ordered the company to pay damages totaling approximately US$191.4 million. The verdict stems from claims brought by Pictiva Displays, an Irish subsidiary of patent licensing firm Key Patent Innovations, involving Samsung's use of specified OLED patents in its consumer electronics.
Key patents at center of dispute
According to SE Daily and Yonhap, citing Reuters, the jury determined that Samsung's Galaxy smartphones, televisions, computers, and wearable devices employed OLED technology covered by two patents held by Pictiva Displays. Despite Samsung's argument challenging the patents' validity, the court sided with Pictiva in the recent trial. However, the final ruling will still be subject to judicial review before becoming definitive.
Origins of the patent portfolio
Pictiva Displays holds a portfolio of hundreds of patents acquired from lighting company Osram during the early commercialization phase of OLED technology in the 2000s. The firm asserted in its 2023 lawsuit that Samsung's widespread use of its patented OLED innovations warranted substantial compensation.
Samsung plans appeal
While the jury's decision awards Pictiva Displays significant damages, the US District Court must now review the legal merits to issue a conclusive verdict. Samsung has expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome and has concurrently filed a challenge with the US Patent Office, seeking invalidation of the contested patents. The technology giant remains confident it will ultimately succeed in defending its use of OLED technology.
Reuters reported that this recent case is part of a broader trend of large-scale patent infringement lawsuits targeting Samsung's mobile and display technologies. The company's ongoing legal battles underscore the complex intellectual property landscape surrounding OLED innovations used in modern electronic devices.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
