Samsung is once again facing a massive financial blow in a court in Marshall, Texas – a locale that for years has been regarded as the epicentre of the loudest patent battles in the US. A federal jury found that the Korean giant had infringed four patents belonging to US company Collision Communications, awarding it damages of $445.5 million.
The dispute involved key technologies related to the 4G, 5G and Wi-Fi standards, used in Samsung’s Galaxy range of smartphones, laptops and other devices, among others. Collision, a small New Hampshire-based company, argued that the patented solutions were based on research originally conducted by defence contractor BAE Systems and were designed to improve wireless performance. Samsung countered by claiming that the patents at issue were invalid.
Texas, and the Marshall court in particular, has a long history of disputes involving global electronics manufacturers. Samsung has had to contend with multimillion-dollar claims here on several occasions in recent years – the industry has for years referred to the region as a ‘rocket docket’ due to the fast pace of proceedings and its favour towards patent owners.
The ruling could have wider implications for the technology industry, where pressure is growing around intellectual property in the 5G and AI space. Increasingly, smaller players – often research spin-offs – are suing global manufacturers, hoping to share in the profits from the mass commercialisation of their solutions.
Collision and Samsung have not yet issued official comments. The case may go to appeal, but it already shows that patent wars remain one of the invisible but costly fronts of technological competition.
