Samsung has taken legal action against Oura, a smart ring manufacturer, seeking a “declaratory judgment” to prevent any patent infringement claims over its upcoming Galaxy Ring. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court, aims to establish that the Galaxy Ring does not infringe on five of Oura’s patents.
Background of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit highlights Oura’s history of suing competitors over common smart ring features such as sensors, electronics, batteries, and metrics-based scores. Samsung claims that Oura has a pattern of indiscriminate assertion of patent infringement against any and all competitors in the smart ring market. This includes previous lawsuits against Ultrahuman, Circular, and RingConn, often before their products even entered the US market.
Oura’s Aggressive IP Stance
Samsung’s lawsuit emphasizes Oura’s aggressive stance on intellectual property. After the Smart Ring announcement, Oura issued statements about its strong IP portfolio, including “100 granted patents, 270 pending patent applications, and 130+ registered trademarks.” Oura CEO Tom Hale has also mentioned that the company will “monitor Samsung’s Galaxy Ring and take the action that’s appropriate.”
Details About the Galaxy Ring
The lawsuit reveals several key details about the Galaxy Smart Ring:
- Hardware Design: The Galaxy Ring’s hardware design was finalized in mid-May.
- Production Start: Production of the Smart Ring is scheduled to begin in mid-June.
- US Market Launch: The Galaxy Ring is expected to be launched in the US market in August.
- Features: The Galaxy Ring includes an “Energy Score” in the Samsung Health app, based on sleep, activity, heart rate, and heart rate variability metrics.
Market Implications
Samsung’s entry into the smart ring market signals renewed interest in the previously stagnant category, prompting Oura to counter with software updates and wider availability. A favorable ruling for Samsung could impact the smart ring market significantly, potentially disrupting Oura’s dominant position.
The lawsuit between Samsung and Oura highlights the importance of intellectual property protection in the tech industry. Samsung’s move to challenge Oura’s patents could have far-reaching implications for the smart ring market. The outcome of this lawsuit will be closely watched by industry observers and could shape the future of smart ring competition.
