LG ordered to pay $3.5 million for violating two smartphone UI patents
Smartphone fans love to accuse manufacturers of copying ideas from other manufacturers. We see it for nearly every phone. LG was recently taken to court for violating a couple of patents concerning user interfaces. They were taken to court by Core Wireless, a company you’ve probably never heard about, but they hold numerous patents for 2G, 3G, and LTE network technology.
Core Wireless alleged that most of LG’s recent smartphones, including its leading LG G4 model, infringe two Core Wireless patents. The jury determined that the patents are infringed and not invalid and awarded Core Wireless past damages based on a reasonable royalty of $0.10 cents per unit, or $3.5 million.
The jury found LG guilty of violating the patents and awarded Core Wireless $0.10 damages per unit. When it’s all said and done, the total damages come to $3.5 million. They are also asking the jury to order LG to pay the same amount per unit on all future sales until 2027. It’s not clear exactly what UI elements were found to be in violation, but the LG G4 was included in the claim.