Under terms of the settlement both companies will dismiss all
pending legal claims in all jurisdictions – a total of 11 pending
cases in five countries involving 27 patents.
Intel first sued VIA in 1999 over the terms of a licensing
agreement. The case settled, but Intel then sued again, in
September 2001, claiming that VIA's microprocessor and chipset
infringed Intel patents. VIA counter sued, claiming that Intel
microprocessors infringed three patents owned by VIA. Soon, the
number of lawsuits and counter-suits swelled.
The companies yesterday announced that they have entered into a
ten-year patent cross license agreement covering each company's
products. VIA has agreed to pay Intel royalties on terms which will
remain confidential. A joint statement says that any other
financial terms of the settlement will also remain
confidential.
