Some Samsung Defenses Stripped in Looming Netlist Patent Trial

Samsung Electronics Co. won’t be able to tell a Texas jury next week it didn’t infringe computer memory module patents held by Netlist Inc. because Samsung thought it had an “implied license” to use the technology, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

Eastern District of Texas Judge Rodney Gilstrap also barred Samsung from claiming that memory module products manufactured since mid-2020 are protected by a 2015 licensing agreement with Netlist, as Netlist formally terminated that deal on July 15, 2020. Samsung memory products made after that date will be largely fair game at the April 14 trial.

Samsung and Netlist have ...