Samsung Fined $445.5 Mln for Patent Infringement

A US jury in Texas has ordered South Korean tech giant Samsung to pay about $445.5 million in damages after being found guilty of patent infringement.

The verdict, issued on Friday, came in favor of New Hampshire-based company K.Michelle Communications, marking an initial ruling that could still be subject to reduction upon appeal.

According to the plaintiff, Samsung’s smartphones, tablets, laptops, refrigerators, washing machines, and other household devices violated multiple patents. The four patents in question relate to technologies designed to reduce signal interference in network communications.

Samsung argued that the patents were invalid, but the Texas jury rejected the company’s defense and awarded K.Michelle Communications nearly $445.5 million in compensation. 

The jury also determined that Samsung had willfully infringed the patents, a finding that could lead to even higher damages in subsequent rulings.

The case highlights the ongoing challenges major tech companies face over intellectual property disputes, especially as global competition in smart devices and network technology intensifies.