Samsung v. Smart Mobile Technologies: Wireless Patent Appeal Voluntarily Dismissed at Federal Circuit
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📋 Case Summary
| Case Name | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v. Smart Mobile Technologies LLC |
| Case Number | 24-1351 (Fed. Cir.) |
| Court | Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit |
| Duration | Jan 2024 – Aug 2024 207 days |
| Outcome | Appeal Dismissed — No Damages Awarded |
| Patent at Issue | |
| Technology Area | Dynamically Configurable IP-based Wireless Devices & Networks |
Case Overview
The Parties
⚖️ Plaintiff-Appellants
Among the world’s largest manufacturers of wireless consumer electronics and mobile devices.
🤝 Co-Plaintiff-Appellants
Global technology leader with one of the most actively litigated patent portfolios in the industry, co-plaintiff against a common adversary.
🛡️ Defendant-Appellee
A non-practicing entity (NPE) based in the District of Columbia, asserting patents covering foundational wireless technology.
The Patent at Issue
This case centered on U.S. Patent No. 8,472,936 (Application No. 13/615,274), which covers technology related to dynamically configurable IP-based wireless devices and wireless networks. This patent addresses adaptive wireless communication architectures, a technology foundational to modern smartphones and mobile networking infrastructure.
- • US 8,472,936 — Dynamically configurable IP-based wireless devices and networks
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The Verdict & Legal Analysis
Outcome
Appeal No. 24-1351 was voluntarily dismissed by Samsung on August 6, 2024, pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 42(b)(2). The dismissal was unopposed, and each party was ordered to bear its own costs. No damages were awarded, and no injunctive relief was addressed in this order.
Critically, a companion appeal, No. 24-1352, was simultaneously **deconsolidated** and forwarded to a Federal Circuit merits panel, indicating that the broader wireless patent dispute between these parties remains actively in motion.
Verdict Cause Analysis
The case’s verdict cause was classified as Patentability / Invalidity-Cancellation Action, suggesting that Samsung and Apple pursued the appeal to challenge the validity of U.S. Patent No. 8,472,936. This challenge likely originated from USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) inter partes review (IPR) proceedings, a standard vehicle for challenging patent validity in technology-intensive disputes.
The unopposed nature of Samsung’s motion to dismiss Appeal 24-1351 suggests a strategic realignment. This could mean the claims challenged in 24-1351 were resolved in related proceedings, or sufficient invalidity leverage was achieved through 24-1352, rendering the former redundant. The specific underlying rationale was not disclosed in the order.
Legal Significance
The deconsolidation and forwarding of Appeal No. 24-1352 to a Federal Circuit merits panel means the substance of the patent validity dispute between these parties has not been resolved. Future Federal Circuit rulings on wireless network patent claims, particularly those covering dynamic IP configuration, can establish claim construction precedents affecting numerous pending cases involving mobile device OEMs and NPE assertions in this technology space.
Voluntary dismissals under FRCP 42(b) at the appellate level, while procedural, also serve as benchmarks for evaluating litigation economics in NPE-driven patent disputes. The “each party bears its own costs” provision prevents either side from claiming a cost-shifting advantage from the dismissed appeal.
📎 Reference: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Case No. 24-1351, Document 33, Filed 08/06/2024. View via PACER or the Federal Circuit’s public docket portal.
Freedom to Operate (FTO) Analysis
This case highlights critical IP risks in wireless device and network design. Choose your next step:
📋 Understand This Case’s Impact
Learn about the specific risks and implications from this litigation.
- View all related patents in dynamically configurable wireless networks
- See which companies are most active in this technology space
- Understand claim construction trends
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High Risk Area
Dynamically configurable wireless features
US 8,472,936
Still under validity scrutiny (Appeal 24-1352)
Design-Around Options
Potential strategies available
✅ Key Takeaways
Voluntary dismissal under FRCP 42(b) is a viable strategic instrument at the Federal Circuit appellate level, especially in multi-appeal, multi-party patent proceedings.
Search related case law →Deconsolidation of consolidated appeals can sharpen litigation focus and preserve the most commercially significant invalidity challenges.
Explore precedents →The unopposed nature of this dismissal suggests negotiated or tactical alignment between parties — a pattern worth monitoring in companion docket No. 24-1352.
Monitor court dockets →Frequently Asked Questions
The case involved U.S. Patent No. 8,472,936, covering dynamically configurable IP-based wireless devices and wireless networks.
Samsung moved unopposed to voluntarily dismiss the appeal under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 42(b)(2), with each party bearing its own costs. The dismissal was procedural; no merits ruling was issued.
No. Companion Appeal No. 24-1352 was deconsolidated and forwarded to a Federal Circuit merits panel, meaning the validity challenge to Smart Mobile’s patent remains active.
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References
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit — Case 24-1351
- PACER — Federal Court Records
- U.S. Patent No. 8,472,936 — USPTO Patent Full-Text Database
- Cornell Legal Information Institute — Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 42
- PatSnap — IP Intelligence Solutions for Law Firms
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. All case information is drawn from publicly available court records. For platform capabilities, visit PatSnap.