Dan, I do not know the details of Infineon's patent that are supposedly infringed by RDRAM. On thing should be clear, however, Rambus licensee if they are indeed making or using products that also use Infineon's IP may be infringing, but not RMBS. I believe however, that these Infineon patents are cross licensed amongst all the Dramurai, and thus each Dramurai that has a license to Infineon's IP, and requires this IP to make RDRAM, is "scott free". Since Rambus does not make any memories, it does not need a license.
It is very simple, I can come up with an improvement on RMBS' IP, which let say is not obvious, and I get a patent. Now, if I go to each of the RMBS' licensee and suggest that my improvement can cut 10% of their cost, and in exchange I would like to share in the financial benefit (taking, let say 25% of these "savings"), the manufacturers will still be liable to RMBS for that part of their product covered by RMBS' license, but if they chose to use my improvement, I will not be infringing on RMBS IP, since I do not make any RDRAM.
Zeev
irrevolute.iuma.com |
