Samsung’s Attempt at Preemptively Protecting Galaxy Ring Patents Backfired

Imagine making a big mess, only to realize it was for naught. A judge has dismissed Samsung’s attempt at striking before the iron’s hot. Last summer, before Samsung had even released the Galaxy Ring to the public, the company filed a lawsuit asking a judge to proclaim its business didn’t infringe on any patents, specifically, patents related to the Oura Ring. This week, the judge ruled this as malarkey (not a direct quote), and Samsung has until late April to appeal the decision with an amended complaint. What does all this legal back-and-forth mean? Samsung struck before Oura, the company behind the Oura Ring, could sniff through its patents and get litigious. Samsung figured that since Oura is known for going after its competition on standard wellness patents—it’s gone after lower-cost brands like Ringconn and Circular—it would come after Samsung, too. Considering Oura’s business is squarely the smart ring and the accompanying ecosystem, it makes sense. Samsung had asked the judge ... Read full article.