Arm Ltd. vs. Qualcomm Inc. et al

Case Background

On August 31, 2022, Plaintiff Arm Ltd. filed a Trademark Infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, Delaware (Case number: 1:22cv1146). Judge Maryellen Noreika presided over this case.

Cause

Arm Ltd. is a global leader in microprocessor intellectual property. The company has consistently pioneered innovative processor architectures, known for their performance and energy efficiency. Over the years, Arm has established a robust licensing framework. This framework grants companies access to its cutting-edge technology through Technology License Agreements (TLAs) and Architecture License Agreements (ALAs). In 2019, Nuvia, Inc., a start-up founded by former engineers from major tech companies, entered into agreements with Arm. The goal was to develop custom processors based on Arm’s advanced architecture. These agreements explicitly prohibited any assignment or transfer without Arm’s consent. In 2021, Qualcomm, Inc., a leading semiconductor company, acquired Nuvia for $1.4 billion. However, Qualcomm failed to obtain Arm’s mandatory approval for the license transfer. This acquisition resulted in a breach of Nuvia’s agreements with Arm. Despite Arm’s subsequent termination of Nuvia’s licenses, Qualcomm and Nuvia allegedly continued using Arm-based technology. They designed and developed semiconductor chips for high-profile products, including Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors. Qualcomm also publicly promoted its plans to integrate Nuvia’s Arm-based designs into laptops, smartphones, and other devices. This indicated unauthorized use of Arm’s intellectual property.

Injuries

Qualcomm and Nuvia’s actions inflicted significant injuries on Arm’s business model, reputation, and relationships with existing and prospective licensees. By continuing to use and market technology derived from Arm’s architecture without au