Samsung is intensifying its legal campaign against Oura, one of the most prominent players in the smart ring market, amid growing competition following the launch of its Galaxy Ring.
Although Oura had established itself as a key brand in wearable technology by the time Samsung introduced the Galaxy Ring in 2024, the South Korean tech giant moved swiftly to preempt potential legal challenges. Samsung filed a lawsuit in June 2024, seeking a declaratory judgment that its Galaxy Ring did not infringe on five of Oura’s patents—an effort aimed at safeguarding its product’s launch from litigation.
That strategy initially allowed Samsung to debut the Galaxy Ring without legal complications. However, in March 2025, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that Samsung had acted prematurely. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín concluded that Samsung failed to demonstrate any specific legal threat from Oura, and that vague public statements by the company’s leadership did not constitute grounds for legal action.
Samsung Files Appeal Following Dismissal
Unwilling to accept the outcome, Samsung has now filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Though the original lawsuit has not been amended, Samsung is challenging the district court’s decision, arguing that the perceived legal threat from Oura remains credible and potentially damaging to the Galaxy Ring’s commercial future.
In its original filing, Samsung cited Oura’s history of aggressively pursuing patent infringement cases against competing smart ring manufacturers. These lawsuits, the company argued, often target widely used features such as health tracking capabilities and battery configurations—elements Samsung maintains are standard across the industry.
Samsung also referenced public comments from Oura’s CEO, who said the company would be “monitoring” the Galaxy Ring and would “take action that’s appropriate.” The court, however, determined these remarks did not rise to the level of a concrete legal threat.
Legal Stakes Remain High in Smart Ring Market
By appealing the dismissal, Samsung aims to revive its effort to preemptively block any future patent claims from Oura. A successful appeal could grant Samsung the declaratory relief it originally sought and bolster the Galaxy Ring’s legal standing in a competitive and increasingly litigious market.
The outcome of the appeal could have broader implications for the smart ring sector, particularly as more tech companies explore wearable health technologies. For now, the battle between Samsung and Oura signals that the race for dominance in this emerging category is likely to be fought as much in the courtroom as in the marketplace.
