Context: Netlist and Micron have been locked in a multi-case battle over memory patents, with a series of complaints and counter-complaints filed in United States district courts and at the U.S. International Trade Commission in recent years. Just last week, Netlist filed a now complaint with the ITC accusing Micron, as well as Broadcom, Google, and Nvidia, of infringing patents relating to high bandwidth memory technologies (September 29, 2026 ip fray article).
What’s new: Netlist today announced that it has reached a settlement with Micron, with the two parties agreeing a patent licensing deal.
Direct impact: The settlement ends all pending legal proceedings between the companies. Micron will receive a five-year term license to Netlist’s patent portfolio, paying $600 million over the term: $30 million per quarter, from the fourth quarter of 2026 through to the third quarter of 2031.
Wider ramifications: Netlist had also been involved for several years in a major dispute with Samsung Electronics; that settled two months ago, with the South Korean company agreeing to pay up to $898 million over the next five years (August 5, 2026 ip fray article). Notably, that deal included an equity portion, with Samsung agreeing to purchase 10 million shares of Netlist common stock valued at around $3 million at the time. Today’s settlement with Micron similarly includes an equity investment component, with Micron agreeing to buy 10 million shares for an aggregate cash purchase price of $1 million.