A U.S. federal jury in Marshall, Texas, has ordered Samsung Electronics to pay $445.5 million in damages to Collision Communications for infringing on patents related to 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi communications standards. The verdict, delivered on Friday, marks another significant patent infringement loss for the South Korean tech giant in the United States.
The lawsuit, initiated by Collision Communications in 2023, centered around four patents held by the New Hampshire-based company. These patents cover core technologies designed to improve wireless network efficiency and optimize data transmission. Collision Communications alleged that Samsung's Galaxy smartphones, laptops, and other wireless-enabled devices incorporated these patented technologies without authorization.
Collision Communications argued that the patents stemmed from research originally conducted by defense contractor BAE Systems. While BAE Systems isn't directly involved in the case, Collision Communications acquired the patents in 2010 and 2011. Samsung denied the allegations, contending that the patents were invalid.
Following deliberations in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the jury sided with Collision Communications, determining that Samsung had infringed on all four patents. The verdict not only validated Collision Communication's intellectual property claims but also awarded substantial damages. The damages match the request made by Brad Caldwell, Collision Communication's attorney. Trial exhibits included internal Samsung emails with statements such as, "We love this, but we don't want to pay for it," which Caldwell cited as evidence of willfulness and efforts involving a Korean university.
The Eastern District of Texas is known for being a favorable venue for patent plaintiffs, and Samsung has faced several nine-figure patent infringement verdicts in the same court in recent years. The jury's decision underscores the high stakes of patent litigation and the increasing value of wireless communication technologies.
Neither Samsung nor Collision Communications have released public statements following the verdict. It remains uncertain whether Samsung will appeal the decision or seek a settlement. This isn't the first time Samsung has faced such a situation. In September 2025, Samsung agreed to a settlement in a separate wireless communications patent lawsuit that had resulted in a $279 million jury verdict against them earlier in the year. Furthermore, Apple is seeking approximately $1 billion from Samsung in another lawsuit stemming from a long-running smartphone patent dispute.
