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AMD Denies that Split May Violate Intel Processor Patents

Paul Lilly — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:09:18 -0500

AMD earlier this week announced plans to split into separate design and manufacturing companies. As part of the split, AMD will retain 44.4 percent ownership in the spinoff of its manufacturing plant - temporarily called The Foundry - with the Abu Dhabi government-formed Advanced Technology Investment Company owning the rest.

Just hours after the announcement was made, Intel said it was investigating whether or not the new company violates a chip licensing agreement it has with AMD. Under terms of the original agreement, AMD has been allowed to use Intel's x86 chip instruction set in exchange for paying Intel a royalty. According to AMD, nothing has changed that would invalidate the cross-licensing.

"We are completely confident the structure of this transaction takes into account our cross-license agreements," Phil Hughes, and AMD spokesman, wrote in an email. "Rest assured - we plan to continue respecting Intel's intellectual property rights, just as we expect them to respect ours."

Not all financial experts agree with AMD's assessment. Hans Mosesmann, a financial analyst with Raymond James, believes AMD probably is violating the cross-license agreement, but doesn't necessarily believe Intel would turn it into a legal matter. Instead, Mosesmann writes that Intel may choose to use it as leverage to "entice AMD to drop the anti-trust suits against Intel in return for this altruistic gesture."

Microsoft Doesn't Want Anyone Stealing Its Mouse Patents

Chris Moody — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:03:02 -0500

Microsoft, which is more often on the receiving side of patent infringement claims, now finds itself on the other side of the legal fence and is taking Primax Electronics to task.

Microsoft is upset over several patents on two different technologies used in computer mice. The first is U2, which allows a mouse to connect to both USB and PS/2 ports and then auto detects the port that is being used. The other, TiltWheel, adds additional cursor movement abilities via mouse tipping (not related to cow tipping).

CNet quotes Microsoft Deputy General Counsel Horacio Gutierrez as saying that they filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission against Primax Electronics only after "repeated attempts to engage in meaningful license terms over the past two years."

Microsoft is known to have an open policy with licensing its intellectual property. They license for years at a time and have more than 20 companies that are part of its hardware technology licensing program.

Microsoft does not sound like it is landing in the realm of Patent Troll here; they actually make the products and have other companies licensing the patents. What do you think? Is Microsoft being a Patent Troll or is it just guarding its intellectual property? Sound off below!

1-Click Shopping For All

Erin Simon — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:36:52 -0500

After a blogger files for reexamination, Amazon's One-Click patent is invalidated by the PTO.

Premier Pretends to Patent Playlists

Erin Simon — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:10:21 -0500

A company has filed suit against a number of media and hardware producers alleging that they infringed its patent in the idea of putting music in a playlist. Really!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Paul "One4yu2c" Lilly — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:38:28 -0500

Tech headlines are littered with lawsuits, and cases can drag on for years. But not in the Court of Paul, where verdicts are swift!