Samsung’s fingerprint biometrics targeted in patent suit
The fingerprint authentication methods featured in some of Samsung’s phones contain software that infringes patents owned by a data encryption firm, according to a claim filed earlier this month.
PACid Technologies filed the infringement complaint at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, on April 6.
Data encryption research firm PACid owns patents which form a crucial part of the encryption specification necessary to secure a wireless local area network which provides the basis for Wi-Fi, according to the company.
On its website, PACid says that anyone who uses the standard password protection schemes for their Wi-Fi network is using its proprietary technology.
In the lawsuit PACid accused Korean electronics company Samsung of infringing two of its US patents, numbers 9,577,993 and 9,876,771, issued in 2017 and 2018 respectively. In addition PACid has accused Samsung of violating South Korean patent KR20110128567A.
The patents relate to secure user authentication methods.
PACid said Samsung is directly infringing claims of the patents and is also indirectly infringing them through knowingly inducing consumers to use the patented inventions.
Samsung’s smartphones feature fingerprint biometric authentication methods which allow the user to log into an application or approve a financial transaction.
The authentication system allows secure communication between devices and servers, meaning users no longer need to remember log in details when authenticating a service.
PACid said that the technology behind Samsung’s biometric data encryption and authentication infringes its proprietary technology.
Products which feature the infringing data encryption authentication methods include the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, S7 and S7 Edge, and S8 and S8 Edge, according to the suit.
PACid claimed it has suffered monetary damages due to Samsung’s infringement, and is seeking past and future damages including pre-judgment and post-judgment interest.
It also asked the court to enjoin Samsung from using and selling any products and systems which feature the infringing authentication software.
Did you enjoy reading this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.
Today’s top stories
MillerCoors files counterclaim in battle of the breweries
WesternGeco v Ion Geophysical: all you need to know
