US: Rambus, Micron find common patent ground outside of court

As authorities around the globe tackle the issue of patent infringement litigation, often seen as anticompetitive and excessive, reports say tech firms Rambus and Micron Technology have settled their own patent dispute – which has lasted more than a decade – out of court.

Rambus has had several disputes in recent years over the use of its DRAM technology. Through its settlement with Micron, Rambus has agreed to license its patents for a quarterly royalty fee for the next seven years; those payments are capped a $10 million per quarter. The agreement also covers products made by Elpida, a DRAM manufacturer, which was acquired by Micron earlier this year. There will be an option for Micron to extend the agreement.

The settlement ends nearly 13 years of patent disputes between the two companies, and settles all outstanding antitrust claims between them.

The settlement follows an earlier agreement reached between Rambus and SK Hynix last June, which included a $240 million licensing deal.

Full Content: PCWorld

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