In the ongoing legal battle between Intel and VLSI in which billions of dollars were at stake, Intel appears to be winning. The U.S. Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB) recently invalidated two patents owned by VLSI worth a total of $2.1 billion, while another major litigation potentially worth $4.1 billion was filed against Intel late last year. resolved to
The litigation between Intel and VLSI is multifaceted to say the least, involving numerous lawsuits across various US and international courts. VLSI alleges that Intel infringes 19 of Intel’s patents derived from IP filed by Freescale, SigmaTel and NXP, and the amount Intel would have to pay if it loses the case in court. will reach billions of dollars. Many of these claims have been adjudicated in one way or another, either by ruling against Intel, being dismissed by a court jury, or by revoking the patents involved, but have yet to be adjudicated. There are several claims pending.
But let’s start with the latest developments.
Back in May, the PTAB invalidated the frequency management patent (“759”) as “clearly unpatentable,” but this month the same panel ruled in a $2.1 billion lawsuit against another patent, memory. The voltage reduction method patent (“373”) was found invalid. “Cannot get a patent”. These two patents were originally issued to SigmaTel and Freescale. These rulings by the PTAB could exempt Intel from paying VLSI for infringing his 759 and 373 patents. Meanwhile, VLSI retains the option to challenge these PTAB decisions in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
“We notice [Intel] “Overwhelming evidence has established that the challenged claims are unpatentable,” states the U.S. Board of Patent Trial and Appeals decision.
Two years ago, a Waco, Texas district judge ruled in VLSI’s favor, ruling that Intel owed $2.18 billion in damages for infringing two patents. One was a frequency management patent developed by SigmaTel, which was allocated $1.5 billion, and the other was a memory voltage reduction technology created by Freescale, which was allocated $675 million. Intel tried unsuccessfully to overturn the ruling in August 2021, seeking a PTAB ruling invalidating both patents.
Intel and VLSI agreed late last year to settle the Delaware-based portion of a $4 billion patent dispute. Meanwhile, in another Texas lawsuit, a jury ruled that Intel owed VLSI about $949 million for infringing on his 7,242,552 patents. This particular patent details a technique aimed at alleviating the problems caused by pressure applied to the bond pads.
The legal battle isn’t over yet, but Intel appears to have the upper hand in its legal battle with VLSI.
source: Reuters, JD Supra
