Press Release: VIA Technologies Sues Intel® Over Intel Pentium® 4 Processor
Posted By Kathy Smith
Date: September 20, 2001
For Immediate Release
VIA claims patent infringement by Intel’s Pentium 4 microprocessors; files
lawsuit in Texas
Taipei, Taiwan, 19 September 2001 -
VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of core logic chipsets,
microprocessors, and multimedia and communications chips, along with its
wholly-owned subsidiary Centaur Technology, announced that is has filed suit
against Intel® Corporation for patent infringement by the Intel Pentium 4
microprocessor family.
The suit, filed in the Federal District Court for the Western Division of Texas
(Austin Division), the home of Centaur’s headquarters, alleges that Intel
Pentium 4 microprocessors infringe, contribute to the infringement of, or induce
others to infringe VIA and Centaur’s U.S. Patent Number 6,253,311 (the ‘311
Patent). This patent, which is jointly owned by VIA and Centaur, deals with the
different formats in which numeric data may be stored in a microprocessor.
VIA and Centaur seek a ruling from the Court that would enjoin the sale of Intel
Pentium 4 microprocessors, as well as a request for monetary damages for both
VIA and Centaur.
"VIA is not only a leading provider of core logic chipsets worldwide, but also
is becoming an important supplier of PC microprocessors, thanks to the hard work
of our CPU designers in Texas," said Richard Brown, Director of Marketing for
VIA Technologies, Inc. "Filing this lawsuit is the first step in protecting our
intellectual property rights."
VIA purchased the Austin-based Centaur from Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
of Santa Clara, California in 1999. Recent microprocessor products produced by
Centaur include the VIA C3™, which has the world’s smallest x86 processor die
size, making it especially useful for portable, low power computing
applications.
About VIA Technologies, Inc.
VIA Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator and developer of PC core logic
chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia and communications chips. VIA delivers
value to the PC industry by designing, marketing, and selling high-performance
VIA Apollo core logic chipsets for the full range of PC platforms, as well as
cost-effective VIA C3™ processors for Value PCs and Internet Appliances. Its
customers include the world's top OEMs, mainboard manufacturers, and system
integrators. VIA is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, at the center of the
Greater China high-tech manufacturing engine, and has branch offices in the US,
China and Europe. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE2388),
and achieved annual revenues of nearly US$1 billion in 2000. Additional
information can be found at www.via.com.tw.
About Centaur Technology
Centaur Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of VIA Technologies, Inc. is a
leader in the high performance, low cost, low power microprocessor marketplace.
With its focus on simplifying the microarchitecture of the core, and reducing
expensive control logic, Centaur aims to revolutionize the underserved value
desktop and long-life laptop marketplace. Centaur is headquartered in Austin,
Texas. Additional information may be found at
www.centtech.com
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VIA PR Contact
International:
Richard Brown
Phone: +1 (510) 386 6103
Note to reporters, editors and writers: VIA is spelled in ALL CAPS.
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