Kioxia Ordered to Pay $229 Million in U.S. NAND Flash Patent Infringement Case

According to foreign media reports and court documents, a federal jury in Waco, Texas, ruled on the 16th that Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Kioxia infringed upon a computer memory technology patent held by U.S. satellite communications company Viasat. The jury ordered Kioxia to pay damages of up to $229 million.

The jury determined that Kioxia's NAND Flash products infringed on a Viasat patent that effectively reduces device power consumption while significantly improving the reliability and lifespan of memory devices.

Viasat claimed that it developed this improved NAND Flash technology—which stores data on transistors using electrical charges—while designing error-correction systems for satellites. Viasat alleged that Kioxia's NAND Flash products contain error-correction technology that operates on the same principles as its patented technology. Kioxia denied these allegations, arguing that the patent in question should be deemed invalid.

Neither Kioxia nor Viasat responded to requests for comment regarding the verdict.

Notably, Viasat has previously filed a similar patent infringement lawsuit against Western Digital, and that case is currently still under review.