Wireless charging is one of the popular features of modern smartphones. However, soon the largest smartphone manufacturer, represented by the South Korean company Samsung, may refuse to use this technology in their devices. This is due to the loss in a protracted legal battle over the infringement of several patents by Mojo Mobility.
Image source: Samsung
Mojo Mobility sued Samsung in 2022, accusing the electronics maker of infringing five patents related to wireless charging technology used in most smartphones sold from 2016 to present. Last year, Samsung tried to have these patents invalidated. However, on September 13, the court found the South Korean company guilty of patent infringement and damages in the amount of $192,136,029.
To put it simply, the legal conclusion is that Samsung stole Mojo Mobility’s designs and used them in its smartphones, smart watches, headphones and other devices. If Samsung decides not to pay the fine, it will likely have to remove wireless charging from its future products or develop new wireless charging methods that do not infringe on Mojo Mobility’s patents. It is also possible that Samsung is required to disable wireless charging in already released devices, but this is unlikely.
Samsung will almost certainly appeal this court decision and try to challenge it. In fact, this is not the first time that a South Korean company has found itself in a similar situation, and it was in the court of the Eastern District of Texas, where the Mojo Mobility complaint was considered. According to recent estimates, patent trolls in the US file a lawsuit against Samsung every five days on average. To defend against these charges, Samsung must employ an army of lawyers, as well as patent any of its own technologies in accordance with all the rules.
If Samsung’s legal team is unable to resolve this issue in court, then it is most likely that Samsung will simply have to pay a fine or enter into a settlement agreement with Mojo Mobility. In any case, a full settlement of the wireless charging technology patent dispute is likely still a long way off.