Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Rambus (RMBS) - Eagle or Penguin -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: unclewest who wrote (23810)	6/28/1999 1:09:00 PM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93625

Date: 06/28 10:57 EST Intel Sues Chipset Maker Via Jun 28, 1999 (Tech Web - CMP via COMTEX) -- Intel has filed a federal lawsuit alleging patent infringement, breach of contract, and unfair competition against chipset maker Via Technologies. The suit, filed last Wednesday, came after Intel terminated its license agreement with Taiwan-based Via on June 18. An Intel spokesman said the company filed suit after months of negotiations with Via about compliance with the licensing agreement, which granted Via use of Intel's patented technology to make and sell certain chipsets. "We tried to resolve it amicably, but unfortunately, they weren't willing to live up to the terms of the agreement they signed last November," the Intel spokesman said. Via could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon. The suit alleges that Via in February or March began making and marketing chipsets that use Intel-patented technology, but are not licensed under the terms of the agreement. "In connection with its marketing, promotion, and offers for sale of unlicensed chipsets, Via has falsely or misleadingly represented, implied, intimated, and otherwise engaged in conduct likely to cause OEMs and others to believe that such unlicensed chipsets are in fact licensed under the agreement, and Via will continue to do so unless enjoined by this court," Intel claimed in its suit. The lawsuit does not cite specific Via products that allegedly violate the Intel agreement, and the spokesman declined to elaborate. Intel filed the suit protect its intellectual property, but also to enforce its licenses so as to prevent confusion in the marketplace, the spokesman said. He said Intel put Via on notice more than two months ago that it would cancel the agreement if Via did not remedy the situation. Intel, Santa Clara, Calif., initially filed a breach-of-contract suit against Via in April, but withdrew it because of a clerical error by an outside law firm, the Intel spokesman said. In its federal suit this week, Intel seeks an injunction against Via's conduct and also unspecified damages. Earlier this year, Via helped form an industry group that worked to develop standards for a faster memory technology, 133MHz SDRAM. Intel has not supported that technology, called PC133, and instead remains steadfast behind an alternative memory technology by Rambus. Via has been working on a chipset that will support PC133 and offer a faster 133MHz front-side bus, which sources have said would come out sooner than Intel's chipsets supporting Rambus and the faster front-side bus. The Intel spokesman said memory technology is not what the lawsuit is about. -0- Copyright (C) 1999 CMP Media Inc.