Samsung faces a new lawsuit. It is accused of breaking nine patents for foldable smartphone technology. This happened while making and selling Galaxy Z Fold, Z Flip, and Z TriFold phones without permission.
Lipton Computing filed the lawsuit on Thursday. It was filed in a US federal court in Texas. The suit claims Samsung Electronics and Samsung Electronics America broke patents. These patents cover devices with flexible screens, hinge mechanisms, and user interfaces for foldable phones.
Lipton said it developed this technology over ten years ago. This was before foldable phones became common. This news comes from a Bloomberg report seen by 'The Business'.
The patents cover many core technologies. These technologies define modern foldable phones. This includes the device structure, hinge design, screen protection, and software behavior.
One key example is the 'App Continuity' feature. This lets apps move smoothly between the outside and inside screens. This depends on whether the phone is folded or not.
The complaint explains how parts fit in small spaces. Sensors, magnets, cameras, and speakers must work with a flexible OLED screen. This screen bends within a set radius.
The lawsuit states that the company's founder, Stephen Delaporte, researched foldable phone structures. He also researched expandable screen ideas since 2008. He showed the first foldable smartphone prototype in the US, called Lepton Flex.
Lipton mentioned talks with Samsung Electronics about foldable phones in 2013. During these talks, they shared their prototype and technical plan with Samsung officials.
Lipton asked the court to confirm patent infringement. They also want a permanent order to stop infringing devices from being sold.
The company also seeks damages and license fees. They want triple damages if the infringement was intentional. They also want to recover legal costs.