TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Chip Makers Strive to Settle Suits: Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Intel Corp. are working to settle lawsuits that have cost both companies millions and diverted their managements’ attention for seven years. In 1982, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel granted AMD the right to make products based on Intel design in exchange for AMD’s designs of other electronic components. In 1987, however, Intel asserted that Sunnyvale-based AMD was supplying insufficient technology to barter for rights to Intel’s 386 chip, the top-of-the-line microprocessor at the time, prompting the filing of suits and countersuits. AMD has paid as much as $40 million a year in legal fees.
