Hi blake_paterson; Re license for NEC/Hitachi's joint venture. If it wasn't an issue, then why is Rambus management quoted as follows:
No License Agreements for Makers Defeated in Lawsuits, Rambus VP Says
Avo Kanadjian, vice president of worldwide marketing at Rambus, spoke to BizTech deputy editor, Shinichi Jimbo, during his visit to Japan to attend the Intel Developer Forum Fall 2000 Japan, held at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo.
...
Q: I understand that the license fees will be higher for manufacturers you filed lawsuits against. Is this correct?
A: It's true in general. I can't comment specifically about any particular maker, but Hitachi Ltd., a company we settled with after a legal battle, won't be any exception to the rule. Let me make it quite clear: Our policy at Rambus is to refuse a license to any maker that we've taken to court over licensing matters and that's lost the lawsuit. Hitachi and NEC Corp. will merge their DRAM divisions in 2001. In dealing with the new company, we'll continue our licensing agreement with whichever party has the higher equity stake. If Hitachi and NEC take 50-50 shares, we'll establish a new licensing agreement.
nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com
It is now clear that Hitachi and NEC did split the equity of their DRAM venture 50-50. This means, according to Rambus management, that a new license will have to be established. Where is it?
-- Carl |
