US Jury Awards Maxell $112 Million for Samsung Patent Infringement

A federal jury in the Eastern District of Texas awarded Japan-based Maxell Ltd. $111.7 million after finding that Samsung Electronics willfully infringed three of Maxell's patents related to smart device technologies, including methods for unlocking devices, managing digital data, and video/photo reproduction. The verdict follows a seven-day trial and stems from a broader global dispute triggered by the expiration of a 2011 patent licensing agreement between Samsung and Maxell's subsidiary Hitachi. Samsung denied the infringement allegations and challenged the validity of the patents but was unsuccessful. The case is part of ongoing litigation in multiple jurisdictions, including the US International Trade Commission, Europe, and Japan. This $112 million verdict adds to a series of recent large patent infringement awards against Samsung in East Texas federal courts. Maxell had sought nearly $130 million in damages, with the jury's award based on a running royalty through the trial period.