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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, November 4 (local time) — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced that it will challenge a recent U.S. jury verdict ordering the company to pay nearly $191.4 million in damages for allegedly infringing two OLED technology patents. The company has also initiated a separate patent invalidation lawsuit with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
A Samsung spokesperson said on Monday, “We will appeal the jury’s decision on the two alleged patent infringements,” adding, “We are already pursuing a separate case with the U.S. Patent Office asserting the invalidity of the patents, and we are confident of a favorable outcome.”
According to Reuters, a federal jury in Texas found that Samsung infringed two patents owned by Pictiva Displays, relating to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology. The jury ordered Samsung to pay $191.4 million (approximately ₩274 billion) in damages.
Pictiva, a subsidiary of Key Patent Innovations, filed the lawsuit in 2023, claiming that multiple Samsung products — including Galaxy smartphones, TVs, computers, and wearable devices — used its patented OLED enhancement technologies. Samsung argued that the patents were invalid, but the jury sided with Pictiva.
A Samsung representative stated, “We maintain that the asserted patents are invalid and that Samsung bears no liability for damages,” emphasizing that the disputed display technologies were developed independently by Samsung.
Pictiva is classified as a non-practicing entity (NPE), often referred to as a “patent troll,” that generates revenue primarily through patent enforcement rather than product manufacturing. The company holds hundreds of OLED-related patents originally developed by lighting manufacturer Osram in the early 2000s.
The jury’s verdict is not final. In the U.S. system, juries determine factual issues and recommend damages, but the presiding judge issues the final ruling. The verdict may still be overturned or modified. Even if damages are finalized, Samsung retains the right to appeal or seek an out-of-court settlement.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
