NEED FOR SPEED = PATENT INFRINGEMENT
Posted by Douglas Sorocco, February 8, 2004 at 4:25 pm
NEED FOR SPEED = PATENT INFRINGEMENT
Patriot Scientific, a small, San Diego-based seller of embedded microprocessors for automotive and scientific applications, is suing Sony, Fujitu, Matsushita, Toshiba, and NEC, alleging infringement of a Patriot patent for what it calls "fundamental microprocessor technology."
Intel, on the otherhand, is seeking a declaratory judgment that it is not infringing Patriot Scientific's microprocessor clocking patent and is seeking a court order stopping Patriot from suing the balance of Intel's customers. This relief is being sought via a declaratory judgment in the Northern District of California, Case No. 04CV0439. By filing the case, Intel has moved to take control of patent litigation that Patriot initiated seven weeks ago against the five Japanese companies (all of whom are OEM customers of Intel) that manufacture desktop and laptop computers, DVD players and other products.
The key patents in question are: (1) 5,440,749, "High performance, low cost microprocessor architecture." (2) 5,809,336, "High performance microprocessor having variable speed system clock." and (3) 6,598,148, "High performance microprocessor having variable speed system clock."
Jeff Wallin, president and CEO of PTSC (current trading information), said, "We will respond to this action by Intel in a vigorous manner, including a substantial likelihood that Patriot will assert counterclaims for, among other things, infringement. Significant segments of the electronics industry are currently benefiting from technology owned by Patriot Scientific. Microprocessors operating at speeds above 110 - 120 MHz may be in violation of portions of our patent portfolio."
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<date name="when" value="Mon, 09 Feb 2004 02:25:34 GMT