Intel loses patent ruling

Zardon · Oct 12, 2002, 04:41 PM

A federal judge in Texas ruled against chip-making giant Intel Corp. on Thursday in a long-running dispute with Intergraph Corp. over patents involving the Itanium processor. U.S. District Judge T. John Ward agreed that Intel’s high-performance chip infringed on the patents invented by Huntsville, Ala.-based Intergraph, now a computer services company.

full story in the forum

Zardon · Oct 12, 2002, 04:42 PM

IN THE SUIT, Intergraph claimed Intel’s Itanium processor infringed on two patents related to parallel instruction computing.
Intel’s total liability is limited to $250 million because of a previous agreement reached as part of another patent fight between the companies.
In his 22-page ruling, Ward found the Intergraph patents to be valid and enforceable. He also said Intergraph is entitled to an injunction that would halt the sale of Itanium processors, which Intel spent $1 billion to develop over 10 years.
But under the deal reached in April, Intel agreed it would pay $150 million to stay an injunction if it lost the case.
If Intel appeals and loses, it would have to pay another $100 million to license the technology.
“If they fail to pay those amounts, then the injunction would prohibit the sale, manufacture or importation of Itanium products,” said David Vance Lucas, Intergraph’s general counsel.
Chuck Mulloy, an Intel spokesman, said the company is disappointed in the decision.
“We respectfully disagree with the judge’s ruling,” he said. “We intend to file a motion for reconsideration within the next 10 days. If the judge denies this, it’s our plan to appeal.”

In the earlier patent dispute involving technology used in Intel’s Pentium chips, Intel paid Intergraph $300 million in April and took out a license from Intergraph.
Itanium is a high-performance processor that runs servers and other powerful computers.
Last month, at Ward’s suggestion, Intel chief executive Craig Barrett and Intergraph chief executive James F. Taylor Jr. met in Texas in an unsuccessful attempt to hammer out a settlement.
Intergraph left the hardware business in 1999 and now sells engineering programs, mapping software and services.

The company claims Intel tried to coerce a free license of the patented technology and later took actions that forced it out of the hardware business.
“This decision is validation of our hardware legacy and is ultimately a recovery for the shareholders of the losses that were sustained as a result of Intel’s actions,” Lucas said.
© 2002 Associated Press.

Shaith · Oct 12, 2002, 07:38 PM

What? Intel STEALS technology? Say it ain't so...

Come on - like anyone really doubted this.

~~JAV~~ · Oct 13, 2002, 01:16 AM

Quote:

“If they fail to pay those amounts, then the injunction would prohibit the sale, manufacture or importation of Itanium products,” said David Vance Lucas, Intergraph’s general counsel.

ONLY in the United States! They could make & sell them elsewhere tho' & Corporate users could buy elsewhere & use them in the US, since they were not a party to the lawsuit & would NOT be bound by the "Injunction".

I've read the "Findings of Facts & Conclusions of Law" the Judge wrote & it is very poorly written, IMO. Intel has a good chance of getting parts of it overturned, IMO also.

Time will tell & I don't excuse Patent Infringment, but based on what I read: the chips are NOT 100% identical to Intergraphs "Patent Claims".

nForcer · Oct 14, 2002, 04:59 AM

Quote:

What? Intel STEALS technology? Say it ain't so...

And we all know AMD looks to Intel for ideas...so I wonder what they are busy doing! :P

vk2amv · Oct 15, 2002, 01:37 AM

AMD Doesnt steal technology. Look at the Athlon. That was an ENTIRELY inhouse deal. They developed it they worked out the problems and they made it. We can hardly say that of craptel. They just cheat. They steal technology like itanium and they get pissed when the owners want it back. I wouldnt be suprised if the p3 and p4 are the same. The p3 we all know is basicaly just an overclocked pentium 75 with mmx and sse added to it. And the p4 isnt much better. I say it serves them right. Intel need to be pulled up. To use a cliche they are getting to big for their boots and need discipline. (And no I dont work at AMD/intel nforcer to answer the question I am sure you would ask, like you did last time). AREA_51

temporalwar · Oct 16, 2002, 12:21 AM

I live in HSV AL, after intel sole all the tech, intergraghs court bills made them stop selling comsumer computeres <some great workstations, I know I have worked on them> and they had to let go of a lot of empolyees!

Thats on reason I only buy AMD based computers

nForcer · Oct 16, 2002, 10:27 PM

Uh, I really don't care who you work for, much less care about your opinion.

As far as 'idea stealing':
EVERY company gets ideas from other companies, you won't ever prove it with a written statement, but you know it happens.

To be honest, I am really getting irriated about this whole AMD><Intel bashing. All of you out there need to grow up, including the ones not on or are reading these forums. Why waste your time figuring out who is better and end up starting wars where there can be no winner? Spend your time deciding what you want to run, stick with it, and ignore others who want to bash you for it.

I've got the first P4 core in my Dell. Its runs 1.3 which is slower than most AMD CPU's of the same Mhz rating, but do I care? No. I'm happy with it and thats all that matters.

temporalwar · Oct 17, 2002, 06:22 PM

Man what is your problem!

get a life!

Oct 12, 2002, 04:41 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Intel loses patent ruling A federal judge in Texas ruled against chip-making giant Intel Corp. on Thursday in a long-running dispute with Intergraph Corp. over patents involving the Itanium processor. U.S. District Judge T. John Ward agreed that Intel’s high-performance chip infringed on the patents invented by Huntsville, Ala.-based Intergraph, now a computer services company. full story in the forum

Oct 15, 2002, 01:37 AM	#6
vk2amv DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 73 Rep Power: 0	Intel steals technology AMD Doesnt steal technology. Look at the Athlon. That was an ENTIRELY inhouse deal. They developed it they worked out the problems and they made it. We can hardly say that of craptel. They just cheat. They steal technology like itanium and they get pissed when the owners want it back. I wouldnt be suprised if the p3 and p4 are the same. The p3 we all know is basicaly just an overclocked pentium 75 with mmx and sse added to it. And the p4 isnt much better. I say it serves them right. Intel need to be pulled up. To use a cliche they are getting to big for their boots and need discipline. (And no I dont work at AMD/intel nforcer to answer the question I am sure you would ask, like you did last time). AREA_51

Oct 16, 2002, 12:21 AM	#7
temporalwar DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: HSV AL USA Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	I Live in HSV, let me tell you guys somthing! I live in HSV AL, after intel sole all the tech, intergraghs court bills made them stop selling comsumer computeres <some great workstations, I know I have worked on them> and they had to let go of a lot of empolyees! Thats on reason I only buy AMD based computers

Oct 17, 2002, 06:22 PM	#9
temporalwar DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: HSV AL USA Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Can I say, Dude your going to Hell? Man what is your problem! get a life!

Oct 12, 2002, 04:42 PM	Thread Starter #2
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	IN THE SUIT, Intergraph claimed Intel’s Itanium processor infringed on two patents related to parallel instruction computing. Intel’s total liability is limited to $250 million because of a previous agreement reached as part of another patent fight between the companies. In his 22-page ruling, Ward found the Intergraph patents to be valid and enforceable. He also said Intergraph is entitled to an injunction that would halt the sale of Itanium processors, which Intel spent $1 billion to develop over 10 years. But under the deal reached in April, Intel agreed it would pay $150 million to stay an injunction if it lost the case. If Intel appeals and loses, it would have to pay another $100 million to license the technology. “If they fail to pay those amounts, then the injunction would prohibit the sale, manufacture or importation of Itanium products,” said David Vance Lucas, Intergraph’s general counsel. Chuck Mulloy, an Intel spokesman, said the company is disappointed in the decision. “We respectfully disagree with the judge’s ruling,” he said. “We intend to file a motion for reconsideration within the next 10 days. If the judge denies this, it’s our plan to appeal.” In the earlier patent dispute involving technology used in Intel’s Pentium chips, Intel paid Intergraph $300 million in April and took out a license from Intergraph. Itanium is a high-performance processor that runs servers and other powerful computers. Last month, at Ward’s suggestion, Intel chief executive Craig Barrett and Intergraph chief executive James F. Taylor Jr. met in Texas in an unsuccessful attempt to hammer out a settlement. Intergraph left the hardware business in 1999 and now sells engineering programs, mapping software and services. The company claims Intel tried to coerce a free license of the patented technology and later took actions that forced it out of the hardware business. “This decision is validation of our hardware legacy and is ultimately a recovery for the shareholders of the losses that were sustained as a result of Intel’s actions,” Lucas said. © 2002 Associated Press.

Oct 12, 2002, 07:38 PM	#3
Shaith HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 916 Rep Power: 0	What? Intel STEALS technology? Say it ain't so... Come on - like anyone really doubted this.

Oct 16, 2002, 10:27 PM	#8
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	Uh, I really don't care who you work for, much less care about your opinion. As far as 'idea stealing': EVERY company gets ideas from other companies, you won't ever prove it with a written statement, but you know it happens. To be honest, I am really getting irriated about this whole AMD><Intel bashing. All of you out there need to grow up, including the ones not on or are reading these forums. Why waste your time figuring out who is better and end up starting wars where there can be no winner? Spend your time deciding what you want to run, stick with it, and ignore others who want to bash you for it. I've got the first P4 core in my Dell. Its runs 1.3 which is slower than most AMD CPU's of the same Mhz rating, but do I care? No. I'm happy with it and thats all that matters.