Samsung Electronics DRAM patent investigation concluded with settlement; no finding of infringem

Samsung Electronics' DRAM patent investigation (337-TA-1511), which had targeted Samsung and seven corporate entities, has been terminated following a settlement with Netlist (NASDAQ: NLST), after the U.S. International Trade Commission declined to review the administrative law judge's termination decision on October 28, with the notice published in the Federal Register on November 2. Netlist and Samsung jointly moved to terminate the investigation as to all respondents on August 18, and the ALJ granted the motion on September 28, with no review petitions filed. The settlement closes out the USITC probe without any infringement determination being made. The resolution removes near-term litigation overhang for Samsung's DRAM business, while Netlist, which has pursued similar patent claims against other memory makers, may see attention shift to its remaining disputes and licensing negotiations. Investors will watch for details of any licensing terms and how the settlement affects Netlist's ongoing patent campaigns against other DRAM suppliers.