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To: unclewest who wrote (1830)	2/4/2000 3:21:00 PM
From: ratan lal	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10713

unc: anyone who wants to make SiC has to work around the IP. then they have to invent uses for SiC that cree has not already patented. Can you patent a 'use' for a product?? It doesnt make logical sense otherwise Visicalc could have pateneted 'spreadsheet' as a use of PC's and 1-2-3 coudld not have existed. Maybe I did'nt understand your statement. ratan

To: unclewest who wrote (1830)	2/4/2000 4:42:00 PM
From: Guy Gordon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10713

True. Cree has patented a method for growing SiC. Anyone who wants to compete with them would have to use another method. But, of course, you don't need SiC to make anything that Cree makes at present. My point is simply that if SiC gives Cree an advantage in making certain devices, then management has to exploit that advantage. So far, Cree's SiC based Blue LED's are no better nor cheaper than the competition's. I believe SiC is a superior material to build blue LED's on, but Cree must provide it in larger than 2 or 3 inch boules to be price competitive. Otherwise sapphire substrates will win out. Cree LED's are at current competitive, not better. RF and microwave devices may be a great area of growth for Cree, but they don't exist yet. Same for blue lasers. (Talking about commercial devices here.) SiC is not some magical material that in itself guarantees Cree success. One need only look at the history of GaAs chip makers for hard lessons.