Luxury / article
Swatch Seeks $170 Million in Damages From Samsung Over Smartwatch Watch Faces
Swatch is suing Samsung for $170 million, alleging the tech giant allowed unauthorized digital copies of Swatch watch designs on its smartwatches.
The Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, seeking $170 million in damages. The legal action, reported by the Financial Times, centers on claims that Samsung permitted digital reproductions of Swatch watch faces to be used on its Galaxy smartwatches.
Swatch alleges that the digital watch faces infringe on its trademarked designs, diluting the brand's identity. The company argues that Samsung's Tizen and Wear OS platforms hosted unlicensed versions of iconic Swatch timepieces.
The lawsuit, filed in a U.S. federal court, specifically targets Samsung's watch face store, where users could download and display counterfeit Swatch designs. Swatch contends that Samsung failed to police its marketplace effectively.
Samsung has not yet publicly responded to the allegations. The case highlights the growing tension between traditional luxury brands and tech companies over digital IP rights in the wearable device sector.