Netlist, Samsung settle patent disputes, sign new memory deal
Under the agreements, Samsung will receive access to US firm Netlist’s complete patent portfolio, including its server DIMM and High Bandwidth Memory technologies. Samsung will supply Netlist DRAM and NAND products, and the parties agree to settle and mutually release all pending legal actions.
California-based Netlist has announced a strategic alliance with Samsung with the signing of five-year term agreements for a patent portfolio cross license, memory product supply and technology cooperation.
Under the agreements, Samsung will receive access to Netlist’s complete patent portfolio, including its server DIMM and High Bandwidth Memory technologies. Samsung will supply Netlist DRAM and NAND products, and the parties agree to settle and mutually release all pending legal actions, according to a media release.
As Reuters noted, the agreement comes weeks after US trade regulators launched an investigation into Samsung memory chips following a complaint by Netlist alleging patent infringement.
The probe covers products sold by Google, Nvidia, Broadcom, and Super Micro Computer that use Samsung memory chips. The agreement follows years of patent fight between the companies. A Texas jury awarded Netlist USD 303 million against Samsung in 2023 and another USD 118 million in 2024 over data-processing technology in memory products, the Reuters report said.
“We’re excited to renew this partnership and look forward to working closely with Samsung,” C.K. Hong, Netlist’s Chief Executive Officer, said. “These strategic agreements reflect the companies’ shared commitment to innovation in the AI-memory space and validates the value of Netlist’s IP.”
In connection with the memory product supply agreement, Samsung will purchase ten million shares of Netlist common stock, the media release said.
