Patent Law

The following is excerpted from a March 10, 2009 article by Melinda Peer at Forbes:

Following a patent dispute that lasted nearly a decade, memory chip designer Rambus and chip maker Hynix Semiconductor settled on terms for a compulsory license with a proposed final judgment of at least $349.0 million.

After deeming nine Rambus patents valid and infringed upon by Hynix Semiconductor, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the companies to negotiate license terms so that Hynix can continue to make, use and sell memory products that incorporate certain Rambus patents. The court denied Rambus' request for an injunction that would force companies to stop making memory chips that use its technology.

Late Monday, Rambus said proposed damages for infringement on the company's U.S. patent that total $349.0 million, plus an estimated $48.0 million in interest, which won't be determined until the final judgment is entered.

In a separate statement from Hynix on Monday, the South Korea-based chip maker said it has yet to agree to the payment which hasn't yet been finalized and a Hynix spokesman indicated that the company is planning to appeal the final judgment.

See the full article here.