UK tech firm steps up its fight with Samsung

A BRITISH tech minnow fighting Samsung in a US court is considering further lawsuits in the UK and China.

Manchester-based Nanoco claims the South Korean electronics titan stole its tech and used it in its bestselling QLED TVs. The David and Goliathstyle battle will come to a head this month when a trial begins in Texas, with Nanoco arguing that Samsung infringed its copyright.

The £141million firm, which was spun out of Manchester University, recently launched proceedings for an injunction in Germany seeking to ban the sale of Samsung QLED TVs.

Nanoco claims it is owed potentially hundreds of millions of pounds from past and future sales. Samsung denies the charges.

The London-listed firm is now doing due diligence on whether it can launch similar cases in the UK and China. In both countries the same legal action can be more costly and complex.

Chief executive Brian Tenner said: ‘We successfully established the validity of our patents in the US, Samsung’s largest market, so it makes sense we’d be actively exploring options in other territories.’

Texas has been chosen because it has a ‘rocket docket’ that hears claims and reaches verdicts much more quickly than in other states. US regulator the Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruled in favour of Nanoco earlier this year, paving the way for the upcoming trial.