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

To: jim kelley who wrote (57088)	10/8/2000 7:24:38 PM
From: mishedlo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93625

<<Re: Rambus used Infineon patents on latch-up protection circuit in CMOS ICs in its RDRAM designs that were passed to all other Rambus licensees. Interesting spin. CMOS latchup circuits have been around for a while. I would be surprised if all the memory companies were not cross licensed on this type of patent. If they are not cross licensed then Infineon could argue that Rambus was encouraging infringement of its patents. If Rambus is cross licensed per force the RDRAM license with Infineon then of course the charge is meaningless and just a distraction to the primary case. None of this has anything to do with the validity of the RDRAM patents. However, Infineon could have a some cause of action against Rambus if the latch up circuit is actually used and is not properly licensed or cross licensed. But since their RAMBUS produces no product Infineon's primary remedy is to go after comapnies which are producing circuits with their latch up circuit. The facts are not clear at this time.>> ======================================================== The problem as I see it is if indeed, Infineon has not cross-licensed this to the other MMs. I actually doubt this if latch ups are as common as you say. But suppose, for the sake of argument, it is not cross-licensed. Then I suppose Infineon could cross-license this to the other MMs for everything but RDRAM. This would leave RDRAM out in the cold, but still would not invalidate Rambus claims on SDRAM and DDRAM, but would put Sony in a world of pain. I am not sure that this is possible, however, unless the cross licensing argeements are so spcecific as to what products are covered or as I said Infineon did not sign them in the first place. In light of the fact that Rambus does not make the product, this would seem to be restraint of trade to charge nothing for something except at it applies to a single company's business. Otherwise this would put Infineon in a position of trying to collect royalties on other MMs. Again I doubt this is possible. Any additional thoughts. I believe Infineon is just trying to muddy the waters for a better deal.

To: jim kelley who wrote (57088)	10/9/2000 6:08:10 AM
From: Bilow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93625

Hi jim kelley; Re: Rambus used Infineon patents on latch-up protection circuit in CMOS ICs in its RDRAM designs that were passed to all other Rambus licensees. If Infineon loses the right to make SDRAM and DDR because Rambus won't license them, why wouldn't they prevent anybody else from making RDRAM, SDRAM and DDR, because they won't license either? Even if there are cross license agreements now (or recently) in effect, those agreements expire and have to be renewed. -- Carl