Qualcomm, a U.S. semiconductor company, has won a major legal victory after a Delaware District Court judge ruled that it did not breach its architecture license agreement (ALA) with chip designer Arm following its $1.4 billion acquisition of AI chip startup Nuvia in 2021.
The ruling, issued by Judge Maryellen Noreika, determined that both Qualcomm and Nuvia complied with their licensing obligations, rejecting Arm’s claims of contract violation. The decision follows a December 2024 mistrial, where jurors could not reach a verdict on Nuvia’s alleged breach but found Qualcomm’s chips, incorporating Nuvia technology, to be properly licensed. The court also denied Arm’s request for a new trial.
After the ruling, Ann Chaplin, Qualcomm’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, said, “With the court’s decision today, Qualcomm and its subsidiary Nuvia have achieved a full victory. Our right to innovate prevailed in this case, and we hope Arm will return to fair and competitive practices in dealing with the Arm ecosystem.” However, Arm has announced plans to appeal, stating that it remains confident in its position. Meanwhile, Qualcomm’s separate lawsuit against Arm, alleging breach of contract and interference with customer relationships, is scheduled for trial in March 2026.
