Netlist Negotiates Settlement with Samsung Over Advanced Memory Technology

08.2026

Today, Irell client Netlist, Inc. announced a strategic alliance with Samsung to license Netlist’s complete patent portfolio, including its server DIMM and High Bandwidth Memory technologies. The terms as set out by Netlist in its public announcement include:

• Netlist will receive approximately $200 million in an upfront license fee.
• Netlist will receive quarterly license fees up to approximately US$27.5 million per quarter for twenty calendar quarters, which may be subject to certain adjustments and refund rights of Samsung.
• Netlist has the right to purchase from Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. up to US$300 million of DRAM and NAND products each year for an aggregate of up to US$1.5 billion during the term, subject to pricing terms.
• Samsung and Netlist also entered into an ITC Cooperation Agreement with a term of five years during which time Samsung agreed to produce or provide certain information, documents, or declarations to Netlist to use in future ITC actions against third parties.

The parties settled all pending litigation between the two companies, including actions before the U.S. ITC and in the Eastern District of Texas.

Irell has secured a perfect 4-0 trial victory record for Netlist against Samsung relating to computer memory technology, including a verdict terminating Samsung’s previous license to Netlist patents based on material breach, a $118 million verdict for patent infringement and a $303.15 million jury verdict for patent infringement.

The Irell team includes Jason Sheasby, Annita Zhong, Lisa Glasser, Michael Harbour, Andrew Strabone, Stephen Payne, Rebecca Carson, Tony Rowles and Michael Tezyan.