High Court Awards Swatch £9M in Samsung App Dispute

The High Court in London has ordered Samsung Electronics to pay Swatch Group approximately $11.6 million in damages after finding trade mark infringement linked to digital watch-face applications on the Galaxy Store. The apps enabled users to replicate designs from Swatch Group brands including Omega, Breguet and Longines. Around 160,000 downloads occurred across the UK and EU, which the court described as large-scale appropriation of protected marks. A quantum trial in June 2026 assessed the harm, with the judge allocating the bulk of the award to store-display infringements that exposed the marks regardless of actual downloads. The ruling underscores that platform operators must actively police third-party content to avoid liability for unauthorised use of well-known marks.

Small businesses should monitor app stores and digital platforms for unauthorised use of their marks and act swiftly to enforce rights.