Intel Denies Digital’s Patent Claims

Intel Corp. said it has filed a response in U.S. District Court denying Digital Equipment Corp.’s patent-infringement allegations and seeking dismissal of Digital’s lawsuit. “Intel has not infringed and is not infringing any claim of the DEC patents,” the computer chip giant said in documents filed in U.S. District Court in Worcester, Mass., where computer maker Digital filed its patent-infringement lawsuit against Intel. Intel also argued that Digital’s patents are themselves “invalid, void and unenforceable” and asked the court in a counterclaim to award Intel compensation for its costs and lawyers’ fees. Digital, based in Maynard, Mass., accused Intel of infringing on 10 Digital patents with its popular Pentium family of microprocessors. The lawsuit was filed May 12. Santa Clara-based Intel is the world’s largest semiconductor maker and its processors are used in more than 85% of personal computers. Intel shares rose $1.9375 to close at $144.9375 on Nasdaq; Digital shares rose $31.25 to close at $36.5625 on the New York Stock Exchange.