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

To: Zeev Hed who wrote (40536)	4/21/2000 12:26:00 AM
From: mishedlo	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 93625

Thanks Zeev, <<There are some in the DRAM industry who assert that much of Rambus' fundamental IP is either invalid or preceded by prior art. The industry group AMI2 believes that Rambus patent Nos. 5953263, 5915105, and 5995443 are invalidated by Micron Technology's patent No. 5544124 and Hewlett-Packard's patent No. 4998262. If this turns out to be true, then it would severely discredit Rambus' claim that they hold fundamental IP on SDRAM and DDR SDRAM technologies. The table below summarizes the areas of invention and filing dates for each of the patents. In order for a patent to invalidate another, it would have to both predate and claim the same area of invention the invalid patent.>> =========================================================== BUT if as you say: that HP and Rambus patents are not the same thing then the only thing to worry about is the Micron patent. (Other than silly US court decisions) In that scenario, does Micron patent just apply to SDRAM or to both SDRAM and DDRAM. Even if it is the latter, my understanding is that Rambus has over 70 patents, and all they need is to be right on one. I do not want to discount this possibility (If this happens my portfolio is in big big trouble). What estimates do you give for the following possibilities? 1) SDRAM and DDRAM infringe on Rambus patents 2) DDRAM infringes on Rambus patents 3) Neither SDRAM nor DDRAM infringes on Rambus patents 4) Prior art shows that Rambus patents are worthless. I have a hunch that it is something like the following 1) 2% - but rather than risk being tied up in court forever Rambus negotiates on DDRAM and RDRAM royalties only, with volume restraints limiting amout of SDRAM that can be produced without royalties going forward. No back royalties are asked for. 2) 82.8% - but rambus accepts lower royalties on DDRAM again depending on volumes of RDRAM, DDRAM, and SDRAM. 3) 15% Status quo - Rambus may or may not take it to the courts, but probably not 4) .2%