News Release
VIA and Intel Settle Patent Infringement Cases
VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer
of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions,
today announced that VIA and Intel Corporation have
reached a settlement agreement in a series of pending
patent lawsuits related to chipsets and microprocessors.
The agreement encompasses 11 pending cases in five countries
involving 27 patents.
Under terms of the settlement, both companies will
dismiss all pending legal claims in all jurisdictions.
The companies also entered into a ten-year patent cross
license agreement covering each company's products.
As part of the agreement Intel granted VIA a license
to sell microprocessors that are compatible with the
x86 instruction set but not pin compatible or bus compatible
with Intel microprocessors.
Intel further agreed for a period of three years, not
to assert its patents on VIA bus or pin compatible microprocessors.
Intel also granted VIA a four year license to design
and sell chipsets that are compatible with the Intel
microprocessor bus and agreed not to assert its patents
on VIA or its customers or distributors on such chipsets
for a fifth year. The agreement will be royalty bearing
to Intel for some products. The license agreements do
not apply to S3 Graphics, a company partially owned
by VIA.
Each company is responsible for its own attorney's
fees. Specific financial and other terms of the agreement
were not disclosed.
Intel initiated the litigations in September 2001,
claiming that VIA's microprocessor and chipset products
infringed Intel patents. VIA counter sued, claiming
that Intel microprocessors infringed three patents VIA
acquired in connection with its acquisition of IDT's
Centaur subsidiary.
About Intel Corporation
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading
manufacturer of computer, networking and communications
products. Additional information about Intel is available
at www.intel.com/pressroom.
Intel PR Contact
International: Chuck Mulloy
Phone: +1-408-765-3484
Email: Chuck.Mulloy@intel.com
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