Key Points
- Netlist files patent cases against Samsung at ITC and Texas federal court
- Google, Nvidia, Broadcom and Supermicro named as additional respondents
- ITC investigations typically reach trial within one year
Netlist has filed patent infringement lawsuits against Samsung in the United States International Trade Commission and the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, targeting the South Korean firm’s high-bandwidth memory products used in artificial intelligence systems.
The California-based memory technology company announced on Wednesday that the legal actions are based on two recently granted patents — US Patent Nos 12,646,537 and 12,650,937. These patents cover Samsung’s high-bandwidth memory (HBM) products and its DDR5 RDIMMs and MRDIMMs, according to a company statement.
HBM is a specialised type of computer memory stacked vertically to deliver faster data transfer speeds, now critical for training and running AI models. RDIMMs and MRDIMMs are registered memory modules used in data centre servers, with the ‘M’ variant offering higher density for demanding workloads.
The ITC complaint names four major technology companies as additional respondents: Google, Supermicro, Nvidia and Broadcom. All four are significant purchasers or integrators of Samsung memory products for AI computing infrastructure.
Netlist Seeks Import Exclusion Orders
At the ITC, Netlist is seeking exclusion and cease-and-desist orders against Samsung and the other named respondents. An exclusion order, if granted, would bar the import of products that infringe the patents into the United States — a potentially severe commercial consequence for Samsung’s memory business.
The ITC is a quasi-judicial federal agency that investigates unfair practices in import trade, particularly violations of US intellectual property rights. Unlike federal court litigation, which can take years, ITC investigations proceed on an expedited basis and commonly reach trial within 12 months.
“Netlist continues to drive breakthrough innovations in AI memory,” said CK Hong, chief executive officer, Netlist. “These enforcement actions expand our efforts to protect next-generation server DIMM and HBM technologies against unauthorized use.”
Long-Running Patent Battle
The new filings add to a series of patent disputes between Netlist and Samsung stretching back several years. Netlist, which develops high-performance memory subsystems for enterprise and data centre applications, has pursued aggressive patent enforcement against major memory manufacturers, arguing that its innovations have been widely adopted without proper licensing.
The involvement of Nvidia, Google and Broadcom as respondents shows the integrated nature of AI hardware supply chains. Nvidia’s graphics processing units dominate the AI training market and rely on HBM from suppliers including Samsung.
Google uses high-performance memory in its custom tensor processing units for AI workloads. Broadcom supplies networking and custom chips for data centre infrastructure, while Supermicro manufactures servers that incorporate memory products from various vendors.
Netlist is represented in these proceedings by the law firms Sterne Kessler Goldstein and Fox, and Irell and Manella.
The ITC complaint will now proceed to an initial determination by an administrative law judge. If Netlist prevails, the full Commission would vote on whether to issue exclusion orders. Samsung and the other respondents have not yet filed public responses to the new complaints.
Your Questions, Answered
What patents has Netlist accused Samsung of infringing?
Netlist alleges Samsung has infringed US Patent Nos 12,646,537 and 12,650,937, which cover high-bandwidth memory (HBM) products and DDR5 RDIMM and MRDIMM server memory modules.
Why are Nvidia, Google and Broadcom named in the ITC complaint?
These companies are named as respondents because they purchase or integrate Samsung memory products in their AI computing infrastructure. ITC complaints can target importers and users of allegedly infringing products, not just manufacturers.
What is high-bandwidth memory and why does it matter for AI?
High-bandwidth memory (HBM) is a type of computer memory stacked vertically to achieve faster data transfer speeds than conventional memory. It has become essential for training and running large AI models, which require rapid movement of massive datasets.
How long do ITC investigations typically take?
ITC investigations proceed on an expedited basis compared to federal court litigation, commonly reaching trial within 12 months. If Netlist prevails, the ITC could issue exclusion orders barring imports of infringing products.
