Under Wednesday's ruling, Cadence can continue to
    pursue copyright claims filed after the date of the
    1994 release, but it "is no longer eligible to receive
    punitive damages even if it prevails," Avant general
    counsel David Stanley said in a statement
    Wednesday after the market closed.

    Cadence had been pursuing trade secret claims
    against Avant since 1995, alleging that Avant stole
    its place-and-route software to design competing
    products. A separate criminal case is pending
    against Avant Chief Executive Officer Gerald Hsu
    and seven others on charges of conspiracy, theft of
    trade secrets and fraud. The charges were filed late
    last year.

    Cadence can still pursue copyright claims on Avant
    products such as ArcCell and Aquarius -- two
    products developed after 1994 that Avant has since
    discontinued. But Avant said the ruling will have no
    impact on its current Apollo software.

    Because of the ruling, Avant said it is unlikely to
    prevail on the copyright claim Cadence filed
    involving ArcCell. It also increases the likelihood
    Cadence will prevail on claims involving the
    Aquarius software, although Avant said it has
    additional defenses it can use with respect to that
    product.