Certain Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) Devices, Products Containing the Same, and Components Thereof (II); Inv. No. 337-TA-1511

The Commission instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1511 based on Netlist, Inc.'s complaint alleging Section 337 violations through importation and sale of DRAM devices, products containing them, and components thereof that allegedly infringe claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 12,646,537 and 12,650,937. The named respondents include Samsung entities, Google, Super Micro, NVIDIA, and Broadcom, with accused products including DDR5 DIMMs, HBM, servers, computing systems, and storage systems. This investigation targets core memory technologies used in modern data-center, AI, server, and high-performance computing systems. Potential exclusion or cease-and-desist relief could affect supply chains for DDR5 and HBM memory and downstream products incorporating those components, including systems sold by major semiconductor, cloud, and server companies. The asserted patents are U.S. Patent Nos. 12,646,537 and 12,650,937, with the investigation covering specified claims of each patent. The accused product scope is DRAM devices, specifically DDR5 generation DIMMs and high bandwidth memory, as well as products containing them such as servers, computing systems, and storage systems. The Commission directed the ALJ to take evidence on the statutory public-interest factors, signaling potential scrutiny of market and supply-chain effects if exclusionary relief is recommended.