Samsung takes preemptive strike against Oura in smart ring patent war
Samsung has filed a preemptive lawsuit against Oura, alleging non-infringement of Finish-based company’s smart ring patents. The move comes ahead of Samsung’s planned launch of the Galaxy Ring in a couple of months time.
The background
Oura has been no stranger to legal disputes and we’ve reported on some of these. The company has filed patent infringement lawsuits against several competitors in the smart ring market. This includes Circular, Ultrahuman and RingConn. The company has aggressively defended its claimed intellectual property since the beginning of 2022.
Oura is asserting that its competitors are infringing on its patents by incorporating features common to most smart rings. This includes the electronics, sensors, battery, LED sensors, motion sensors, and Bluetooth functionality. It also includes some software features such as providing an “energy score” or a “recovery score.”
Plot twist
In an interesting turn of events, Samsung has taken the initiative and filed a lawsuit against Oura with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division. You can view the full 32 page legal filing on this link.
This preemptive legal action aims to invalidate Oura’s patent claims on smart ring technology. This should pave the way for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Ring launch. Teased earlier this year, the device is expected to hit the market in late July. Mass production of the device is expected to begin in mid-June.
Samsung’s decision to sue Oura demonstrates a bold strategy to mitigate potential legal hurdles before the Galaxy Ring sees the light of day. By seeking a declaratory judgment of non-infringement, Samsung aims to establish that its Galaxy Ring does not violate any of Oura’s patents. This proactive approach could save Samsung from potential delays in the Galaxy Ring’s release.
Samsung’s complaint targets a number of patents owned by Oura, alleging that the Galaxy Ring does not infringe on any of them. The lawsuit focuses on features common to most smart rings, such as sensors, electronics, batteries, and the display of health metrics. Samsung argues that these features are generic and should not be subject to patent protection.
For example, Samsung argues that the Galaxy Ring does not have the same external and internal housing components, battery placement, or printed circuit board configuration as described in Oura’s patents. Additionally, Samsung asserts that the Galaxy Ring does not use a server to determine various health metrics or calculate a readiness score, as specified in one of Oura’s patents.
Implications for the smart ring market
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the smart ring space. If Samsung succeeds in invalidating Oura’s patent claims, it could open the door for other companies to settle their disputes.
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Samsung’s willingness to engage in a legal battle with Oura suggests a high level of confidence in the Galaxy Ring. The company has invested heavily in health and fitness tracking technology, and the Galaxy Ring is expected to be a major addition to its wearable portfolio. By addressing potential patent issues head-on, Samsung is signaling its commitment to bringing the Galaxy Ring to consumers without legal obstacles.
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