Photo: Samsung
Samsung isn't waiting for a potential legal fight—it's going on the offensive. The tech giant has filed a preemptive lawsuit against Oura, a leader in the smart ring market, seeking a court declaration that its upcoming Galaxy Ring doesn't infringe on five of Oura's patents.
Samsung accuses Oura of a concerning pattern: suing competitors over features typical to most smart rings, like sensors, batteries, and metric-based scores. The lawsuit cites instances where Oura targeted rivals like Ultrahuman, Circular, and RingConn—sometimes before their products even launched in the US.
Fearing a similar attack, Samsung bolsters its case with evidence. Shortly after the Galaxy Ring's announcement, Oura sent a statement to media outlets highlighting its extensive intellectual property portfolio, including hundreds of granted and pending patents and trademarks. The lawsuit also references an interview with Oura's CEO Tom Hale, who hinted at taking action to protect the company's patents regarding the Galaxy Ring.
The lawsuit sheds light on the Galaxy Ring's development as well. It reveals the hardware design's finalization in mid-May, production starting in mid-June, and a targeted August launch in the US. Additionally, a screenshot from the Samsung Health app showcases an "Energy Score" feature that analyzes sleep, activity, heart rate, and heart rate variability data.
These preemptive lawsuits are common in the tech world. Last year, medical device company Masimo won a similar case against Apple, temporarily halting Apple Watch imports over alleged blood oxygen patent infringement.
A win for Samsung could have significant ramifications for the smart ring industry. Oura has dominated the market for years, but Samsung's entry, with its established brand and ecosystem, poses a serious threat. Furthermore, a favourable outcome for Samsung could empower smaller smart ring makers facing similar patent challenges from Oura.
Samsung's move signifies a growing smart ring market—one that Oura might be feeling the heat of. The recent flurry of software updates and expanded retail partnerships by Oura suggest a potential response to this rising competition.