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Sterne Kessler Client Netlist Negotiates Five-Year Patent Alliance with Samsung
[August 11, 2026]

Sterne Kessler Client Netlist Negotiates Five-Year Patent Alliance with Samsung


A cross-practice team at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox served as lead U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) counsel to Netlist, Inc. (OTCQB: NLST) in a patent infringement case against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. involving advanced memory technology. After nearly a year of litigation in the ITC, Netlist has now reached a comprehensive settlement with Samsung. A new five-year deal includes a patent cross license agreement between the two companies under which Samsung has a license to Netlist's complete patent portfolio, including its server DIMM and High Bandwidth Memory technologies.

In total, the agreement could mean as much as $898 million in patent licensing fees paid to Netlist over the five-year term, as well as a new strategic supply agreement under which Samsung will supply up to $1.5B of DRAM and NAND products to Netlist over the next five years. Samsung will also purchase 10 million shares of Netlist common stock. As a result of the deal, the two companies have settled pending litigation matters, including actions before the U.S. ITC and in the Eastern District of Texas. However, Netlist will continue defending its patents in connection with CAFC appeals, IPR proceedings and district court actions involving third parties manufacturing or selling non-Samsung products.

In addition to serving as Netlist's lead ITC counsel, since 2024, Sterne Kessler has served as Netlist's lead counsel at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in defending the validity of its patents, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in appeals of inter partes reviews, and in various reexamination proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Central Reexamination Unit.

This latest news on behalf of Netlist underscores Sterne Kessler's effectiveness across practices and venues. The team, which was composed of litigators, PTAB lawyers and technical subject matter experts, was led by directors Will Milliken, co-chair of the firm's Appellate Practice; Richard Bemben, co-chair of the firm's PTAB Practice; and Danny Yonan, head of the firm's U.S. International Trade Commission Practice. The Sterne Kessler team also included directors Donald Banowit and Lauren Watt.

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About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
Based in Washington, D.C., Sterne Kessler is a leading intellectual property law firm providing strategic IP services to clients worldwide. With more than 170 attorneys, the firm offers integrated capabilities across patent and trademark prosecution, strategic counseling, post-grant proceedings, and litigation before federal district and appellate courts and the International Trade Commission. Since 1978, Sterne Kessler has served as a trusted partner to innovative companies, startups, inventors, universities, and investors, helping them protect, enforce, and maximize the value of intellectual property. The firm is committed to delivering practical, business-driven solutions that support innovation and long-term strategic objectives.



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