Samsung has filed a lawsuit seeking £5.6 million in compensation from Dyson in a patent row over a vacuum cleaner mechanism.
Samsung’s suit is a counteraction against Dyson, which earlier had accused the South Korean company of violating its patents on the mechanism used in its vacuum cleaners that allows for swift change of direction without flipping or snagging. Dyson initiated legal action through the High Court in England in September last year but withdrew the suit two months later.
Samsung released its Motion Sync vacuums cleaners in the summer last year and immediately seized the local market with the product. The company’s market share in the sector jumped to 75% from 18% in four months with the new vacuum cleaner.
Samsung of course denies stealing Dyson’s invention and accused the British rival of defamation. Sources said Samsung may seek greater compensation depending on how the court proceedings go.
“Dyson has groundlessly portrayed Samsung Electronics as a repeated patent violator through malicious suits and a publicity campaign, undercutting all Samsung Electronics products as copycats,” a company official said. “We filed the suit because the damages are extensive and we fear similar incidents occurring again.”
In response Dyson said that:
“Dyson pioneered cyclonic vacuum cleaners and digital motors – and has been developing them ever since. We patent our technology, and naturally defend it. It is surprising that a company over 100 times bigger than Dyson is so worried. The patent system offers us some protection, but not enough: with an army of lawyers, hidden prior art is occasionally found and ways to design around existing patents identified.”
