Samsung Electronics is again exposed to patient infringement lawsuits in regard to smartphones in the United States. It has been filed by a former employee of Samsung Electronics’ patent team. As per the information heard, the patent infringement lawsuit was filed against Samsung Electronics and Samsung Electronics America in the US court (Eastern District of Texas)
The claimant who filed the lawsuit is Mr Kim Seung-man. He stated in the complaint filed in Texas Eastern Federal Court, that Samsung Electronics breached 7 patents it had held since 2015 while implementing the “Smart Lock” feature of its smartphones.
Smart Lock at Glance
For the one who is not aware of this feature then Smart Lock allows you to keep your device unlocked while it’s on you, add locations where your device stays unlocked. And add Bluetooth devices that will keep your device unlocked while they’re connected. While the devices that are not using Smartlock can be unlocked by fingerprint recognition, password, or pattern input respectively.
Patent Team “1st generation”
In addition to this info, Kim worked in the patent team of Samsung Electronics from the interval of 1980s to the late 1990s. He’s said to be worked in the 1st generation of the Samsung Electronics Patent Team.” Since those who have practised patents in some large enterprises in the early’s 1980s. The time before the awareness of patents in Korea was established is classified as the 1st generation in the patent industry. And during his tenure at Samsung Electronics, he reportedly worked in patent disputes against Japanese companies.
On the other hand, the former vice president Anmo of the Samsung Electronics Patent Center, as he also filed a US patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics in November last year. Reportedly, he again filed another US patent lawsuit against Samsung Electronics in February. He was working as a former researcher and has been involved in working on patents since the mid-1990s. It was the time when the awareness of patents began to take hold in Korea. And thus, it can be classified as a 1.5th generation person of the Samsung Patent team.
In contrary, the US Court for the Eastern District of Texas, is court known for its patent friendly policies. It is the same court whereby Ahn and Kim filed a patent lawsuit. At the same time, it is most preferred court of the Patent Management Corporation (NPE).
