Intel is in trouble again over patent infringement. A Texas court has ordered the chipmaker to pay $949.8 million in damages to patent firm VLSI Technology, Reuters reported. The court came to a decision quite quickly in the lawsuit filed for Intel’s alleged patent infringement.After just six days of hearings, the court ruled against Intel. Thus, the world-famous chip manufacturer was found guilty of infringing a patent on data processing published nearly 20 years ago. However, plaintiff VLSI Technology will have to wait a little longer for the almost $1 billion fine. Intel is appealing the decision.
Intel goes to appeal
An Intel spokesperson made a statement on the matter, saying the company “strongly disagrees” with the decision and plans to appeal. He also stated that the case is “one of many examples that show that the US patent system urgently needs reform.”
By the way, let’s remind that VLSI Technology is a patent troll. It is stated that the company bought the patent from Dutch chip manufacturer NXP Semiconductors. According to the plaintiff, Intel used the technology in question in Skylake and Cascade Lake processors without any patent license agreement.VLSI Technology’s attorney argued at the hearing that Intel’s chips were infringing patents “millions and millions of times per second”. The jury decided to pay the company in full for the damage it claimed. Intel’s lawyer told the court that its own engineers developed the technology and that its modern microprocessors will not work with VLSI Technology’s legacy technology.
What is a patent troll?
Patent troll refers to organizations that buy patents for the purpose of making money by suing other companies, not for the purpose of using them in any product. VLSI Technology, a subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group, a private equity firm owned by SoftBank Group, is one of them.
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