A federal jury in Marshall, Texas has ruled that Samsung Electronics must pay $445.5 million in damages to Collision Communications, a New Hampshire-based patent holder, for willfully infringing four patents related to 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi communications standards.
The jury found that a wide range of Samsung products, including Galaxy smartphones, laptops, and other wireless-enabled devices, used technology covered by Collision’s patents without authorization. These patents, originally developed by defense contractor BAE Systems, were acquired by Collision nearly 15 years ago to commercialize innovations aimed at reducing signal interference and improving wireless network efficiency.
Background and Legal Proceedings
Collision Communications filed the lawsuit in December 2023, alleging that Samsung had previously engaged in discussions about a potential partnership between 2011 and 2014, during which the South Korean tech giant gained access to the patented technology. Collision claimed that Samsung later incorporated the innovations into its product lines without consent.
Samsung denied the allegations and argued that the patents were invalid. However, the jury rejected Samsung’s defense and concluded that the infringement was deliberate, a finding that often leads to enhanced damages and heightened legal scrutiny.
Significance of the Verdict
The $445.5 million award, issued as a running royalty, is one of the largest patent infringement verdicts Samsung has faced in recent years in the Eastern District of Texas, a jurisdiction known for handling high-stakes intellectual property cases. The case was tried by attorneys from Caldwell Cassady & Curry, who have a track record of securing major verdicts in patent litigation
This ruling adds to a growing list of legal challenges for Samsung in the U.S., particularly in the realm of wireless and communications technologies.
