Texas Jury Favors G+ Communications; Orders Samsung To Pay $142 Million For Patent Infringement

Texas Jury Favors G+ Communications; Orders Samsung To Pay $142 Million For Patent Infringement

The copyrights were originally assigned to ZTE Corporation

A Texas, US, federal jury has ruled in favor of G+ Communications LLC in a patent infringement case against Samsung Electronics, ordering the tech giant to pay a substantial sum of $142 million.

G+ Communications had filed a legal suit against Samsung, alleging infringement upon two of its patents essential for 5G wireless standards. Critical by international standards, the patents are integral to enabling devices to comply with the 5G network.

These were originally assigned to ZTE Corporation and subsequently acquired by G+, which identified several Samsung products including the 5G devices Galaxy Note20, Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy S21, Galaxy A Series and Galaxy Z Fold2, infringing upon its patents.

However, Samsung denied the allegations and contested the validity of the patents. It argued that G+ failed to offer licenses on fair and reasonable terms mandated by standards organizations and denied infringing or committing any offence.

After the initial trial, the jury ruled that Samsung should pay $67.5 million in running royalties for past product sales that infringed upon two of the three patents. However, Chief US District Judge Rodney Gilstrap ordered a new trial to reassess the damages. He stated concerns about jury confusion regarding the form of the reasonable royalty.

On deliberating, the jury held that Samsung infringed upon two patents owned by G+ that were fundamental to the advancement of 5G wireless technology. As a result, the court found Samsung liable for damages worth $142 million.