The smart ring market has been heating up with competition, but it's also becoming a legal battleground. In a significant development for the wearable tech industry, a federal judge has dismissed Samsung's preemptive lawsuit against smart ring maker Oura, ruling that the tech giant acted prematurely in its attempt to shield its Galaxy Ring from potential patent infringement claims.
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| The Galaxy Watch 5 and Oura Ring (Gen 3) showcase the competition in the smart ring market |
The Preemptive Strike That Failed
Last June, Samsung took an unusual legal approach by filing a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that its then-unreleased Galaxy Ring didn't infringe on five Oura patents. This move was notable not only for confirming features in a product that hadn't yet launched but also for attempting to block potential future patent infringement cases before they could materialize. Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín has now officially dismissed the case, stating that Samsung acted without concrete evidence that Oura actually planned to sue.
Samsung's Arguments Fell Short
In its lawsuit, Samsung pointed to Oura's history of filing patent suits against competitors like Ultrahuman, RingConn, and Circular for what Samsung described as features common to virtually all smart rings, including sensors, batteries, and health metrics. Samsung also cited public statements from Oura CEO Tom Hale, who had mentioned the company would monitor the Galaxy Ring and take action that's appropriate. However, the judge determined these statements weren't specifically directed at Samsung, noting that of all the statements Samsung provided, only three referenced the Galaxy Ring, and none explicitly threatened Samsung directly.
Legal Implications for the Smart Ring Market
The dismissal has significant implications for the still-developing smart ring market. While Samsung's Galaxy Ring has enjoyed nearly a year of unimpeded sales, the ruling potentially clears the way for Oura to pursue its own legal actions if it chooses to do so. This comes at a time when Oura is already engaged in legal battles with other smart ring manufacturers. In March 2024, Oura filed an International Trade Commission (ITC) action against Circular, RingConn, and Ultrahuman, stating they had no choice but to challenge brands that imitate and ride the coattails of our innovation.
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| Circular is currently running a million-dollar Kickstarter for the Ring 2, highlighting innovation in the smart ring market |
A Market in Legal Limbo
Despite the ongoing legal uncertainties, the smart ring industry continues to grow. According to IDC predictions, smart ring sales are expected to climb from under a million in 2023 to approximately 2.5 million in 2025. Companies like Circular are moving forward with new products, with their Ring 2 raising $1.6 million on Kickstarter and promising advanced features like blood pressure and glucose readings. Similarly, Ultrahuman and RingConn have launched new models recently.
What Comes Next
Samsung has until late April to file an amended complaint, though the legal pathways appear limited. Some analysts suggest Samsung's lawsuit successfully delayed potential legal action from Oura until certain patents were rendered moot due to statutory limitations. Whether Samsung will attempt to amend its complaint or appeal the dismissal remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the outcome of Oura's ITC case against other smart ring manufacturers could significantly reshape the market landscape.
Patents and Innovation
Both Oura and Samsung continue to innovate in the smart ring space, with Oura filing dozens of patents in 2025 alone and hundreds more previously. These range from one-size-fits-all designs to novel features like using rings to unlock cars. Samsung has its own patented ideas for future Galaxy Ring iterations, including an outer temperature sensor to detect fevers, gesture controls for connected devices, and a resizable design that adapts to the wearer's finger size.
As the smart ring market continues to evolve, these legal battles highlight the tension between innovation and intellectual property protection in emerging tech categories. For consumers interested in smart rings, keeping an eye on these legal developments may prove just as important as following the latest product announcements.
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| Two sleek metallic rings represent the ongoing innovation in the smart ring industry |