Always good for a laugh is the INTC - BRCM suits.
What is funny this time around is that BRCM is doing the suit. Usually INTC is going after BRCM. This just shows you how the area BRCM is in is now considered more important to INTC than in the past.
Monday November 19, 7:17 pm Eastern Time
Broadcom sues Intel, alleging patent infringement
IRVINE, Calif., Nov 19 (Reuters) - Communications chipmaker Broadcom Corp. (NasdaqNM:BRCM - news) said on Monday it had filed a lawsuit charging that certain of No. 1 chipmaker Intel Corp.'s semiconductors infringe on patents held by Broadcom.
In a complaint dated Nov. 19 and filed in the Eastern District of Texas, Texarkana Division, U.S. District Court, Broadcom alleges some of the chips Intel (NasdaqNM:INTC - news) makes to support its microprocessor infringe on patents issued to Broadcom for display technology.
Microprocessors are the primary computing engines of personal computers, and must be used in conjunction with and support of other chips, such as graphics, memory, chipsets and motherboards in order for a PC to function properly.
In its complaint, Broadcom said that ``the Intel support chips include inventions that are claimed by the Broadcom patents.''
Broadcom said in its complaint that it is seeking damages ``in an amount adequate to compensate Broadcom for (Intel's) infringement of the Broadcom patents, including but not limited to the damages attributable to the sale of Intel microprocessors and related components in combination with the infringing devices.''
The complaint also seeks triple damages, as well as interest on the damages awarded and attorney's fees.
An Intel spokesperson couldn't immediately be reached to comment.
The lawsuit is the second recent example of legal squabbling between the two companies in an industry that is no stranger to such wrangling.
In August 2000, Intel filed a patent infringement lawsuit against chip designer Altima Communications Inc., which was bought by Broadcom in September 2001.
That lawsuit is ongoing |
