According to a lawyer for Samsung, a Russian court on Thursday overturned a verdict that would have prevented Samsung Electronics (005930. KS) from importing and selling 61 smartphone models in Russia due to intellectual property litigation that began last year.
Samsung’s sales are not banned under Russian law as a result of the judgment, though the company announced earlier this month that it would cease shipments of devices to Russia due to “geopolitical developments” in a move unconnected to the case.
SQWIN SA, based in Switzerland, filed a complaint against Samsung Pay last year, alleging that it infringed on their electronic payment system patent, which was registered in Russia.
Because Samsung contested the initial judgment, and SQWIN SA’s request for interim remedies was denied, the ban was never applied.
Samsung’s appeal was upheld by a Russian court, according to Russia’s RIA news agency. An emailed request for comment from court officials was not immediately returned.
We are fully satisfied with the appeal decision and that Samsung’s arguments were carefully considered and accepted,” said Natalia Gulyaeva, managing partner at Hogan Lovells in Moscow, one of Samsung’s legal consultants on this case.
Samsung said it welcomed the decision. SQWIN SA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A court ruling in October listed 61 Samsung models the company was prohibited from importing and selling in Russia, citing the patent numbers. According to data source Counterpoint, Samsung had a 30 percent market share in Russia’s handset market in the fourth quarter of 2021, ahead of Xiaomi with 23 percent and Apple (AAPL.O) with 13 percent.
