Intel has lost a lawsuit in the US state of Texas for patent infringement of VLSI Technology. The company will have to pay $ 2.18 billion to VLSI, an older company that returned in 2019 specifically to sue the famous processor manufacturer. However, it seems that these patents were not even initially developed by VLSI, but by Freescale Semiconductor and Sigmatel.
Intel used two licenses in the VLSI portfolio without a license
VLSI Technology was the company that produced the first processors based on the ARM architecture together with Apple and Acorn. However, the patents that Intel infringed were approved only in 2009, 2010 and 2012. However, VLSI was bought by Philips in 1999, and in time the company’s assets reached NXP, the chip manufacturer with origins within Philips.
These patents refer to the frequency management of an electronic device, the technique of operating the memory at minimum voltage and the scaling of the memory size based on voltage. The Texas jury ruled that Intel used two of the three patents in VLSI Technology’s portfolio.
Of course, the fact that a sentence was reached in this case does not mean that Intel will pay this amount immediately. Company representatives say they do not agree with this verdict. Intel will appeal, and its lawyers are convinced that they will be able to overturn this decision. However, VLSI Technology also has other disputes with Intel pending, so the fight will not be far from over even after a favorable call for the company.
The two billion dollars that Intel has to pay represents only 10% of the company’s profits for 2020.
