Samsung, TIB Settle Suit over Security Method

Case Filed: Jan 22, 2013

Case Closed: Nov 20, 2013

Case Duration: 302 Days

Court: Texas Eastern District Court

Judge: Rodney Gilstrap

Case Summary:

A patent infringement suit was filed by Tierra Intelectual Borinquen (TIB) against Samsung claiming that their patents covering authentication system for unlocking mobile device were infringed. In Jan, TIB filed a dozen cases against companies including ASUSTeK Computer, Kyocera, Lenovo, LG, Pantech, Acer, Apple, Sony, Toshiba, ZTE, HTC at the US District Court demanding a jury trial and unspecified damages. The patents involved in the suit were:

•         US7350078 entitled User selection of computer login was issued on Mar 25, 2008
•         US7725725 entitled User-selectable signatures was issued on May 25, 2010

The patents expire[*] by Mar 04, 2022 and are currently assigned[†] to TIB (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database). According to the complaint, the ‘078 and ‘725 patents cover a computer implemented method for creating a signature for subsequent authentication, including authentication based on user input signals from user selectable input devices. The patents protect a system allowing users to choose between a password, face recognition and some other login method, to unlock a mobile phone. Plaintiff alleged that defendant manufactures mobile devices including Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet and the Samsung Galaxy S111 mobile phone that infringes the method claimed in the patents.

Joint stipulated motion for dismissal was filed by TIB and the Court upon consideration granted the dismissal and ordered all claims asserted in the case between TIB and Samsung to be dismissed with prejudice, thereby closing the case. Each party will bear their costs and expenses incurred.

See 2:13-cv-00045 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

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[*] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[†] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.