US memory giant agrees five-year licensing deal for high-bandwidth AI memory technology, ending litigation after Texas court verdicts.
Computer-memory manufacturer Netlist has announced that Micron Technology will pay $600 million to settle a long-running patent infringement dispute covering advanced memory architectures used in artificial intelligence hardware.
Under the terms of the agreement, Micron will pay Netlist $30 million per quarter over a five-year period to license its intellectual property portfolio, which includes key high-bandwidth memory (HBM) technology. The resolution comes after Netlist secured a $445 million patent infringement verdict against Micron in a Texas federal court in 2024.
The settlement resolves a critical regulatory threat after Netlist filed a fresh infringement complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) in September, seeking an import ban on Micron chips powering AI computing infrastructure for Google, Nvidia, and Broadcom.
Commenting on the agreement, C.K. Hong, Chief Executive Officer of Netlist, stated: “The agreement with Micron further validates the value of our AI memory technologies. We remain committed to protecting our IP while continuing to invest in the development of next-generation products.”
The deal represents Netlist’s second major licensing victory in quick succession, following an August settlement with Samsung Electronics after winning $421 million in Texas patent verdicts against the South Korean tech giant. Micron did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
