Uniloc Targets Some 70 Galaxy Models
Uniloc, a patent troll, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics’ latest Galaxy models, including the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy S10 5G.
Uniloc is a representative non-practicing entity (NPE) that has strengths in patents on computer electronics and mobile communication devices. It filed a total of 52 lawsuits against Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics last year alone.
The patent troll filed a suit against Samsung’s latest products with the Texas District Court on April 16, according to sources in the smartphone industry on April 29.
Uniloc’s patent claims are related to two functions: exchanging pictures and videos using Android Beam, and wireless network telecommunications. Android Beam is a feature that allows users to share content between two Android smartphones by putting them close together using near field communication (NFC), a technology that allows devices in a close range to exchange data.
"When a user sends photos using NFC, once device authentication information is exchanged, it is possible to send and receive data via Bluetooth without any subsequent authentication process, even if the devices are put beyond the NFC range," Uniloc said.
Devices in Uniloc's cross hairs are approximately 70 recently released Galaxy models including the Galaxy S10 5G, the Galaxy S10, the Galaxy S9, the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy Fold that has not gone on sale yet. "Our target list includes all of the devices that have the Android Beam function to exchange data such as photos and video," UniLock said.
The Galaxy Fold was originally scheduled to be released in the United States on April 26, but the launch was postponed due to problems such as the display blackout.
Industry experts say that Samsung Electronics is increasingly becoming a target of patent trolls as the Korean smartphone giant has been expanding its influence in the global smartphone market not as a fast follower but as the first mover.