9461167

Patent infringement suit by Acorn Semi against Samsung entities. The patents actually asserted were U.S. Patent Nos. 7,084,423; 8,766,336; 9,209,261; 9,461,167; 9,905,691; and 10,090,395; the '542 patent was not asserted. A May 19, 2021 jury verdict found infringement and awarded $25 million; Samsung appealed (Appeal No. 22-1499), and the parties settled in January 2023 while the appeal was pending.

Samsung petitioned for inter partes review of U.S. Patent 9,461,167, challenging claims 1–6 and 8–16. The Board instituted trial on January 13, 2021, and entered a Final Written Decision on January 12, 2022; available summary data lists no claims invalidated, suggesting the challenged claims survived (not certain).

Federal Circuit appeal No. 22-1499 is listed among litigation associated with the '167 patent family. The available search results did not identify the appellant, appellee, or the specific judgment/decision on appeal; it is plausibly an appeal from the E.D. Tex. litigation or IPR2020-01205 but is unverified.

Oak IP, LLC sued GlobalFoundries on February 4, 2025, after acquiring a portfolio of 36 semiconductor patents from Acorn Semi. Public reporting states the acquired portfolio includes US 9,461,167 B2 and the action followed the same depinning/contact-resistance technology theory, but the narrative could not confirm that the '167 patent was specifically asserted in the complaint.