Samsung Ordered to Pay $11.6 Million to Swatch

Samsung Electronics has been ordered by London’s High Court to pay Swatch Group AG $11.6 million after a judge ruled that the technology company unlawfully used copied designs of luxury watch brands on its smartwatches. The ruling follows a trademark dispute involving digital watch displays made available through Samsung’s app store.

Swatch had sought around $170 million in damages, arguing that Samsung’s smartwatch displays replicated the appearance of watches from brands including Breguet, Longines and Omega. Samsung had argued that any damages should be limited to about $301. A previous judgment found that Samsung had infringed Swatch Group’s trademarks through the displays, which were available between 2015 and 2019.

Judge Marcus Smith said the inexpensive or free availability of the copied designs was damaging to Swatch’s carefully developed brands. He noted that Samsung appeared to place little value on the trademarks, while Swatch had invested decades in building and promoting them. Samsung and Swatch representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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