Controversies

Samsung customers complain over spoiled food after update bricks AI smart fridges

Issue disclosure

According to Fortune, Samsung customers are complaining to the company over spoiled food after a software update bricked Samsung AI smart fridges. The incident, reported as a controversy involving the brand, centers on the software update rendering the AI smart fridges unusable, which customers say led to food spoilage. The complaints were directed at Samsung following the update.

India investigates LG and Samsung over alleged tariff evasion on OLED TV parts

Investigation

Reuters reports that LG and Samsung are facing an investigation in India over alleged tariff evasion involving OLED TV parts. The report states that the investigation concerns the two companies and the alleged evasion of tariffs on components used in OLED televisions. No further details about the investigation, its findings, or its consequences were provided in the source.

Acquittal in the Samsung C&T–Cheil Industries merger case

A South Korean court acquitted Lee Jae-yong of financial-crime allegations related to the 2015 merger. The acquittal was subsequently upheld by the country’s highest court.

Samsung corrects Galaxy S22 display refresh-rate specifications

Issue disclosure

Samsung corrected specifications in its press materials for the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+, changing the stated variable refresh-rate range from 10–120Hz to 48–120Hz. According to the report, Samsung did not proactively inform the public about the correction. The change concerns the refresh-rate figures listed in the promotional materials rather than any other aspect of the devices.

Samsung corrected specifications in its Galaxy S22 and S22+ press materials, changing the stated variable refresh-rate range from 10–120Hz to 48–120Hz. The article reports that Samsung did not proactively tell the public about the correction.

Caltech adds Samsung to patent litigation

Lawsuit filed

In a controversy noted in 2022, the California Institute of Technology added Samsung to a patent litigation matter. According to the source, the case alleges infringement involving Wi-Fi products and patents covering error-correction codes. The source does not report a determination on the allegations, and no outcome or ruling is stated.

California Institute of Technology added a case against Samsung, alleging infringement involving Wi-Fi products and patents covering error-correction codes. The source does not report a determination on the allegations.

Samsung CEO apologizes for application throttling

Company response

Samsung Vice Chairman and CEO Jong-Hee Han apologized to Samsung users for throttling thousands of applications. He said Samsung would listen to customers more closely to help prevent a recurrence.

Samsung confirms cybersecurity breach exposing company data

Issue disclosure

Samsung confirmed that it suffered a cybersecurity breach that exposed company data, including source code for Galaxy smartphones. The company said the stolen data did not include employees’ or users’ personal information.

Samsung confirms security breach involving internal data

Issue disclosure

Samsung confirmed a security breach involving some internal company data after hackers obtained and leaked confidential data, including source code. Samsung said the breach did not include customers’ or employees’ personal information and that it had implemented measures to prevent further incidents. Qualcomm said it was working with Samsung to determine whether any Qualcomm data had been affected.

Samsung sued over Galaxy S20 camera glass

Lawsuit filed

In 2021, owners of Galaxy S20 series devices filed a lawsuit against Samsung, alleging that the glass on the camera module fractured or shattered without external force. The suit accuses Samsung of fraud, breach of warranty, and violations of consumer-protection laws. The report does not state that a court has reached any determination in the matter.

Galaxy S20 series owners filed a lawsuit against Samsung, alleging that camera-module glass fractured or shattered without external force. The suit accuses Samsung of fraud, breach of warranty, and violations of consumer-protection laws; the article does not report a court determination.

Consumers sue Samsung over Galaxy S20 camera glass defect

Lawsuit filed

Consumers filed a lawsuit against Samsung alleging that the camera glass on Galaxy S20 smartphones shattered unexpectedly and that Samsung did not disclose the defect. The suit, filed on April 27, accuses Samsung of fraud, breach of warranty, and violations of consumer-protection laws. These are allegations made in the lawsuit and have not been established as fact.

Consumers sued Samsung, alleging that Galaxy S20 smartphone camera glass shattered unexpectedly and that Samsung did not disclose the defect. The lawsuit, filed April 27, accuses Samsung of fraud, breach of warranty, and violations of consumer-protection laws; these are allegations in the suit.

Samsung sued over alleged vape pen battery defect

Lawsuit filed

A federal court complaint filed in Arizona alleges that a defective e-cigarette battery made by Samsung SDI exploded and injured a father and his infant son in 2019. The plaintiffs sued Samsung and Red Star Vapor, asserting seven product-liability-related causes of action and seeking damages and other relief. The allegations are presented as claims in the complaint, not as court findings.

A federal court complaint filed in Arizona last week alleges that Samsung SDI made a defective e-cigarette battery that exploded and injured a father and his infant son in 2019. The plaintiffs sued Samsung and Red Star Vapor, asserting seven product-liability-related causes of action and seeking damages and other relief; the allegations are not presented as court findings.

South Korean FTC fines five Samsung affiliates over cafeteria business

Fine or penalty

In 2021, South Korea's Fair Trade Commission fined five Samsung affiliates — Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDI and Welstory — a total of 234.9 billion won over allegedly unfair internal trading involving an in-house cafeteria business. Samsung called the decision regretful and argued that its employee-welfare efforts had been misread as unfair business support.

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission fined Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDI and Welstory a total of 234.9 billion won over allegedly unfair internal trading involving an in-house cafeteria business. Samsung called the decision regretful and argued that its employee-welfare efforts had been misread as unfair business support.

Dutch watchdog fined Samsung over television price coordination

Fine or penalty

In 2021, the Dutch consumer watchdog ACM fined Samsung over €39 million over the coordination of online television prices. According to ACM, Samsung influenced online television prices by urging seven retailers to raise prices. Samsung said it was appealing the fine. The regulator's action concerned Samsung's influence on pricing by retailers rather than a finding described in further detail in the available source.

Samsung says Russian-app notification was an error

Issue disclosure

Samsung said an update notification sent to a limited number of UK customers incorrectly stated that Russian government-mandated apps had been downloaded; it said no Russian apps were installed. Samsung attributed the wording to a technical error and apologised.

Samsung fined €40 million over Dutch TV pricing

Fine or penalty

The Dutch consumer watchdog ACM fined Samsung €40 million over alleged price fixing of TVs in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2018. ACM said Samsung's price recommendations encouraged retailers to keep prices above market rates. Samsung said it would appeal and maintained it had not forced retailers to adopt its pricing advice.

Samsung fined for television price fixing in the Netherlands

Fine or penalty

The Dutch competition watchdog ACM fined Samsung 40 million euros for price fixing. The regulator said Samsung had urged retailers to raise television prices and that its efforts went beyond normal guidance and structurally determined market prices. Samsung said it would appeal and denied forcing retailers to use its price advice.

Ericsson and Samsung settle global patent dispute

Settlement

Ericsson and Samsung reached a multi-year global patent-licensing agreement covering patents related to cellular technologies and sales of network infrastructure and phones from January 1, 2021. The agreement settled their dispute and ended complaints before the USITC and lawsuits in multiple countries.

Jury finds Samsung liable for patent infringement

Ruling

A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas found Samsung liable to Solas OLED for wilfully infringing two patents. The jury awarded Solas $62,738,543 in damages.

Which? sues Qualcomm over patent licensing fees

Lawsuit filed

UK consumer organization Which? filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm, alleging abuse of market dominance through its patent licensing and chip supply practices and seeking more than $600 million in compensation.

Stated objective. Which? is seeking compensation for eligible consumers who bought Apple or Samsung smartphones from 1 October 2015 onward.

Samsung discloses user-data exposure on its UK website

Issue disclosure

Samsung disclosed that a technical error on its website allowed a small number of users to access another user's details. The company stated that the incident was unrelated to the Find My Mobile push notification issue. No further details about the number of affected users, the specific data involved, or the outcome were provided in the available summary.

Samsung said a technical error allowed a small number of users to access another user's details on its website. The company said the incident was unrelated to the Find My Mobile push notification issue.