Samsung has filed a lawsuit against Oura. This legal action is taken as a preemptive measure to stop Oura from possibly asserting a patent violation.
Samsung also observed Oura's apparent readiness for a legal battle, like a declaration regarding the robustness of its patents and trademarks shortly after the announcement of the Galaxy Ring. Samsung thought that Oura might take legal action due to a past record of legal disputes involving firms providing standard functionalities found in nearly every smart ring.
The Galaxy Ring is anticipated to feature both pulse and pulse oximeter sensors, and it's supposed to seamlessly blend with Samsung's extensive range of products, encompassing home automation and digital payment systems. It's widely anticipated that this will happen when a new line of foldable devices is introduced, possibly during an Unpacked gathering in the upcoming summer months.
The legal action sought a ruling stating that the forthcoming wearable would not infringe upon five Oura patents due to its sensors, health data metrics, power units, and additional electronics.
In the lawsuit, Samsung mentioned its anticipation to begin widespread manufacturing of the Galaxy Ring later this month, with a US debut "in the fall" (around August). To tackle potential criticisms concerning health data, it showcased an Energy Score function within Samsung Health, which it plans to incorporate into its forthcoming line of advanced smartwatches.
Legal battles related to technology that are claimed to be too similar have been happening for a while. Samsung, for example, has been involved in a prolonged legal dispute with Apple, accused of replicating important features of the iPhone.
However, these types of pre-launch suits are uncommon, indicating that Samsung thinks it possesses enough power to avoid a patent conflict before it even begins.
For instance, Masimo grabbed the spotlight for securing an ITC import embargo against the Apple Watch, alleging it violated its patents for blood oxygen technology. However, if the court agrees with Samsung, it could create a significant impact on the smart ring industry. Until recently, Oura has maintained a nearly unassailable position as the top dog in the smart ring domain. Samsung's entry into the smart ring race — being one of the major tech companies to do so — coupled with its extensive range of devices, presents a considerable challenge to Oura in a manner that smaller, lesser-known smart ring companies have not faced.
The Galaxy Ring, the newest addition from Samsung to the world of smart wearable technology, is set to transform the way we engage with our devices.
The Galaxy Ring is a significant investment to innovation for Samsung. With capabilities that might transform the smart wearable market, Samsung is eager to safeguard its product against any legal disputes.