ELPIDA SIGNS PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH RAMBUS
Thursday November 2, 7:02 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Elpida Signs Patent License Agreement With Rambus For SDRAM and DDR SDRAM Memory
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2000--Elpida Memory Inc. and Rambus Inc. today signed a patent license agreement for SDRAM and Double Data Rate (DDR) SDRAM memory.
Elpida Memory, Inc. is the name of the new joint DRAM memory venture formally announced by NEC and Hitachi on September 28th 2000. NEC and Hitachi established this joint venture company in December 1999 with the intention to bring their DRAM products together under a single brand and also to cooperate on the development and design of future DRAM products. According to IDC, Elpida will enter the DRAM market in January 2001 with 11.5% market share, and to grow to more than 20% market share by 2003.
Under the agreement Elpida can sell SDRAM and DDR SDRAM directly to their systems customers and ensure a seamless transition of DRAM sales from the NEC and Hitachi brands over to the Elpida brand. NEC and Hitachi, the parent companies, both retain their previously announced licenses with Rambus for both SDRAM and DDR SDRAM memory and Controllers that directly connect to them.
Under the licensing agreement, the royalty rates for DDR SDRAM are greater than the RDRAM compatible rates. The agreement also includes royalties for SDRAM as well as a license fee for the entire agreement.
Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS - news) is an intellectual property company that designs, develops and licenses high-bandwidth chip-connection technologies which enable semiconductor memory devices to keep pace with faster generations of processors and controllers. To date, these efforts have resulted in more than 100 U.S. and foreign patents issued to Rambus. Rambus has licensed its technology to approximately 30 semiconductor companies for the development, manufacture and sale of RDRAM-compatible ICs. Providers of RDRAM-compatible integrated circuits include the world's leading DRAM, ASIC, controller and microprocessor manufacturers.
Note to Editors: Rambus is a registered trademark of Rambus Inc.
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Contact:
Rambus
Kristine Wiseman, 650/944-8000 (Public Relations)
pr@rambus.com
Susan Berry, 650/944-7900 (Investor Relations) |
