Pioneer Electronics has scored a major plasma IP victory in the US courts against arch rival Samsung after a jury in the United States District Court awarded the Japanese Electronics Company damages totaling US$59.3 million.

Attorneys for Pioneer alleged that Samsung willfully infringed two Pioneer patents covering plasma display technology, U.S. Patent Numbers 5,182,489 and 5,640,068. In the verdict, the jury ruled in favor of Pioneer on every count, affirming the company’s allegations of willful infringement against Samsung.

A Pioneer executive said “This significant decision in favor of Pioneer represents recognition of the strength of Pioneer’s intellectual property rights in the field of plasma displays. Pioneer released the world’s first 50″ high-definition plasma television for consumer use in 1997, and the world’s first 50″ full high definition plasma display for consumer use in 2006. Pioneer will continue its basic stance of protecting its intellectual property rights.”

The verdict followed an eight-day trial before the Hon. David J. Folsom in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

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