Samsung faces $192 million verdict over wireless charging patent infringement

Mojo Mobility has secured a $192.1 million verdict against Samsung Electronics for infringing on five wireless charging patents. The Texas jury found Samsung willfully used Mojo’s patented technology in its smartphones and smartwatches without permission, potentially tripling the damages award pending a judge’s ruling.

By Khushi Jain Published on September 16, 2024, 11:57 EDT

Image Credits - cnet

Samsung Electronics has been ordered to pay $192.1 million to Mojo Mobility, a company founded by electrical engineer Afshin Partovi, for infringing on five of its patents related to wireless charging technology. A federal jury in Texas reached the verdict on Friday, ruling that Samsung’s chargers for devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, and earbuds violated Mojo’s patent rights.

The legal dispute between the two companies dates back to 2022 when Mojo Mobility filed a lawsuit against Samsung. According to Mojo, Partovi and his colleagues made multiple visits to Samsung’s headquarters in Korea in 2013 to discuss a potential partnership for wireless charging technology. However, the negotiations failed, and Mojo claims that Samsung went on to use its patented technology without a license.

Mojo argued that Samsung integrated the inventions into hundreds of its products, including the popular Galaxy smartphones, Galaxy smartwatches, and Galaxy Buds, without permission. The jury ruled in favor of Mojo, concluding that Samsung had willfully violated the patents. This could lead to the award being increased by up to three times, pending a judge’s decision.

Samsung had denied the allegations throughout the trial, maintaining that the patents in question were invalid. This is not the first time the South Korean tech giant has faced significant financial penalties in U.S. courts. In April of this year, Samsung was hit with a $142 million verdict in a separate patent case concerning 5G wireless technology in the same East Texas court.