June 26 - Swiss watchmaker Swatch is seeking $170 million in damages in a legal action against Samsung, according to court documents cited in reports. The claim centers on third-party applications made available on Samsung smartwatches that, Swatch alleges, allowed users to create digital copies of watches produced by brands the group owns, including luxury labels Omega and Tissot.
Swatch's damages claim follows a 2022 decision by the High Court in London which found Samsung liable for trademark infringement in relation to third-party smartwatch apps. A British judge is expected to determine the level of damages imminently, based on written submissions the parties have filed with the High Court.
In its written statements to the court, Swatch accuses Samsung of what it describes as "large-scale appropriation" of "valuable and carefully protected" trademarks. Samsung, in turn, has characterised Swatch's demands as "extravagant" and outsized in its own written response.
The dispute began in 2019 and the litigation encompasses claims tied to infringement within the European Union as well as actions heard in Britain. The forthcoming ruling on damages in London is also expected to clear the way for a parallel claim brought by Swatch against a Samsung subsidiary in the United States, according to the court materials.
Swatch has a broad product range that spans low-cost plastic timepieces through to high-end luxury models worth tens of thousands of dollars. While the group does produce connected watches, for example SwatchPAY!, it has not launched a smartwatch of its own.
A spokesperson for Swatch said the group would not comment on the ongoing legal procedure. Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Context and implications
The case highlights a legal intersection between traditional watchmakers and the expanding market for smartwatches, where third-party software can reproduce the visual identity of established mechanical and luxury timepieces. Companies such as Samsung, Apple and Huawei are listed among major producers in the fast-developing smartwatch sector.
As the High Court prepares to quantify damages, the outcome will both address alleged trademark harms and influence follow-on litigation in other jurisdictions. The pending ruling will be monitored closely by stakeholders in the consumer electronics and luxury goods segments.