From "News Report" on Rambus suits against what seems like everybody in the computer biz.
Any comments on the technicals of the "memory address" contention?
Will these legal action may make all memory as expensive as Rambus?
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It would have been difficult not to use" the patents, said Peter Glaskowsky, an analyst at MicroDesign Resources. One of the patents controls how the processor gets a memory address, or the location of the data in memory. Rambus' technique is relatively straightforward and efficient, he said.
Second, JEDEC's rules permit companies to submit patents for adoption by the group and to collect royalties from members. As a result, the courts may rule that preventing the company from collecting royalties is an excessive penalty that even JEDEC wouldn't impose.
JEDEC representatives declined to comment on the case.
What next?
So what will happen next? If Rambus wins its patent cases, more claims for royalties will likely follow. Nearly every memory maker will be on the hook for royalties. Next will be companies that make controllers, which shuttle data to and from memory.
This group could well include microprocessor upstart Transmeta, which includes an integrated DDR DRAM controller in its chips.
"We are in discussions with controller manufacturers as well," said Kanadjian.
The antitrust cases, however, could take some time. While the decision in the German suit should be out in a few weeks, Infineon's antitrust case won't begin until March. Hyundai's antitrust case does not yet have a trial date.
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Any comments on the technicals of the "memory address" contention?
Will these legal action may make all memory as expensive as Rambus?
-------------------------------------------------
It would have been difficult not to use" the patents, said Peter Glaskowsky, an analyst at MicroDesign Resources. One of the patents controls how the processor gets a memory address, or the location of the data in memory. Rambus' technique is relatively straightforward and efficient, he said.
Second, JEDEC's rules permit companies to submit patents for adoption by the group and to collect royalties from members. As a result, the courts may rule that preventing the company from collecting royalties is an excessive penalty that even JEDEC wouldn't impose.
JEDEC representatives declined to comment on the case.
What next?
So what will happen next? If Rambus wins its patent cases, more claims for royalties will likely follow. Nearly every memory maker will be on the hook for royalties. Next will be companies that make controllers, which shuttle data to and from memory.
This group could well include microprocessor upstart Transmeta, which includes an integrated DDR DRAM controller in its chips.
"We are in discussions with controller manufacturers as well," said Kanadjian.
The antitrust cases, however, could take some time. While the decision in the German suit should be out in a few weeks, Infineon's antitrust case won't begin until March. Hyundai's antitrust case does not yet have a trial date.
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