Samsung and Solas seek to settle patent dispute
South Korea-based Samsung and Irish company Solas OLED have agreed to settle a patent suit, less than half a year after Samsung lost challenges against the finding that it owes approximately $77 million.
On Friday, March 4, Samsung and tech licensing firm Solas filed a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
While the filing was short, it did state that all claims and counterclaims that were or could have been brought in this action should be dismissed with prejudice, and each of the parties will bear its own costs.
In March last year, a jury at the Texas court found that Samsung had willfully infringed two OLED display patents, US patent numbers 7,446,338 and 9,256,311 through the sale of Galaxy S and Galaxy Note smartphones with flexible touch sensors. The jury also found that certain claims of Solas’ patent, US number 6,072,450, were invalid.
After a five-day trial, the jury awarded Solas nearly $63 million in damages for infringement of the two patents. In light of the unanimous verdict, the court entered a final judgment, enhancing the damages award by $15 million.
Samsung subsequently lodged an appeal against the decision but, in December 2021, Judge Rodney Gilstrap denied Samsung’s motions, rejecting the technology company's arguments that the verdict be overturned or damages significantly reduced.
“The court finds that substantial evidence exists within the record supporting the jury’s verdict on each of the grounds raised by defendants, and consequently the motions should be denied and the jury’s verdict reaffirmed,” said Gilstrap.
One month later, in November, Samsung filed an appeal against the decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
However, late last week, the parties agreed to dismiss their dispute. Both Samsung and Solas have been contacted.
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