The computer giant Intel has been found guilty of infringing two patents owned by the company Vlsi Technology and will have to pay a huge fine.
Trouble at home Intel. The multinational american company founded in 1968 – specialised in the production of computer components and semiconductors – has been sentenced to pay a huge fine of 2.18 billion dollars. The penalty was imposed by a federal jury in the Western District of Texas. According to the jurors, Intel was guilty of infringing two industrial patents owned by Vlsi Technology. The facts date back to the late 1990s. At the time, Vlis Technology was a company that designed and manufactured custom and semi-custom integrated circuits. Intel allegedly infringed two patents on ‘ways to improve processor power and speed by taking into account special techniques in the design phase’ (Source: Blommberg). The lawsuit was filed by Vlsi Technology in 2015 following the company’s acquisition by Philips Electronics Group.
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Patent infringement: Intel will have to pay a $2.18 billion fine
The court case between Intel and Vlsi Technology has been going on for several years and ended only a few days ago. According to the verdict of the federal jury, Intel has allegedly infringed two of Vlsi’s patents and will have to pay a huge fine of USD 2.18 billion. To be precise: $1.5 billion for a first patent and $675 million for a second. The amount of the fine is undoubtedly very high and – according to the Waco Tribute Herald – even higher than what Vlsi’s lawyers requested. In a statement, CEO Michael Stolarski said his company was “pleased that the jury recognised the value of the innovations reflected in the patents and I am extremely pleased with the verdict”.
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