Arm is revoking Qualcomm’s license to design chips using Arm’s technology, potentially disrupting the smartphone and automotive industries.
Qualcomm and Arm Holdings Plc have a long-standing relationship that spans over a decade. Qualcomm has been selling ARM-based Snapdragon processors since 2017.
The conflict arose when Qualcomm acquired Nuvia, a startup developing custom ARM-based CPUs. In 2022, Arm filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm and its subsidiary Nuvia for breaching license agreements and trademark infringement. Arm claimed that Qualcomm attempted to transfer Nuvia licenses without Arm’s consent, a standard restriction under Arm’s licensing agreements. Arm alleges in its lawsuit that Qualcomm’s continued development after the termination of the licenses constitutes a breach of the license agreement.
Currently, Arm is revoking the license that allowed Qualcomm to use Arm’s intellectual property for chip design.
