Qualcomm and Arm begin Delaware trial over withheld chip tools and leaked license termination threat

On Monday, October 5, 2026, in Wilmington, Delaware, chipmaker Qualcomm and chip technology firm Arm Holdings began a jury trial in U.S. federal court. Qualcomm accuses Arm of breaching their contract by withholding chip testing tools and leaking a 2024 threat to terminate a license agreement, which allegedly damaged Qualcomm's chip deal with Meta Platforms. Qualcomm seeks to stop royalty payments for up to five years, potentially worth billions. Arm denies the allegations, arguing Qualcomm suffered no harm. Judge Maryellen Noreika is considering whether to limit damages. The trial follows a 2022 lawsuit by Arm and a 2024 victory for Qualcomm.