Pioneer Wins $59.4M Verdict Against Samsung for Plasma Display Patent Infringement

Holding:

A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas returned a verdict finding products made by Samsung Electronics Ltd. willfully infringed two patents for plasma display technology held by Tokyo-based Pioneer Corp. Specifically, the jury awarded Pioneer more than $59 million for lost profits and royalties, after making a finding of willful infringement. The trial in U.S. District Judge David Folsom's court lasted eight days. The complete verdict amount, including awards for lost profits and royalties, totaled $59,351,480.

Detailed Summary:

Pioneer filed the complaint against Samsung Electronics and several other Samsung companies in the district court alleging infringement of Pioneer patents related to plasma display panel (PDP) technology. Pioneer likewise sought a court order enjoining sales of infringing Samsung products and compensation for past infringement.

Pioneer is a leading innovator in PDP technology and has developed a portfolio of fundamental patents in the field. Pioneer has been negotiating in good faith with SDI for a license to Pioneer’s PDP patent portfolio since April of 2005. Pioneer, however, determined that litigation was necessary in order to protect the value of its intellectual property in the PDP product field. The patents-at-issue consisted of the following: U.S. Patent No. 5,182,489: Plasma display having increased brightness; and U.S. Patent No. 5,640,068: Surface discharge plasma display.

Pioneer was represented by a team of attorneys from McKool Smith and Morrison & Forester, LLP. Sidley Austin of Los Angeles was Samsung’s lead attorney.

“We are very pleased with the jury’s finding,” says Mr. Baxter of McKool Smith. “This was a complicated case and we were fortunate to have jurors that closely examined the facts before reaching their verdict.”

In the verdict, the jury ruled in favor of Pioneer on every count, affirming the company’s allegations of willful infringement against Samsung.

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