USITC Launches Probe into DRAM Equipment Alleging Patent Infringement

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) announced on July 15th that it has opened an investigation, designated 337-TA-1511, into certain DRAM devices and their downstream products and components. The investigation names seven respondents, including major technology firms like Samsung Electronics, Google, Nvidia, and Broadcom.

The probe stems from a complaint filed by Netlist, a California-based memory technology company, on June 16th. Netlist alleges that specific DRAM equipment exported, imported, and sold in the United States infringes upon its U.S. patents, specifically numbers 12,646,537 and 12,650,937. The former patent relates to vertically stacked memory chips with through-silicon via (TSV) technology, while the latter concerns register clock drivers (RCD), a core component in memory modules.

According to Netlist, Samsung's High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) products and DDR5 RDIMM and MRDIMM memory modules infringe these patents. Netlist has requested that the ITC issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order. The company further alleges that products from Google (TPUs), Nvidia (Blackwell and Rubin series GPUs), and Super Micro Computer (server products), which utilize Samsung's allegedly infringing memory technology, are also involved.

This investigation is part of an ongoing series of legal disputes between Netlist and Samsung. Previous jury trials in Texas have found Samsung liable for willful patent infringement, resulting in substantial damages awarded to Netlist. The USITC's investigation focuses on the importation of alleged infringing products into the U.S. market.