GlobalFoundries and TSMC settle all patent disputes, reach cross-licensing agreement

[Shawn Knight]

The big picture: The dispute resolution and agreement to work together over the next decade benefits all parties involved… well, with the exception of patent lawyers that are now without work.

American semiconductor foundry GlobalFoundries and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) have agreed to dismiss all patent disputes between them as well as those involving their respective customers.

Best yet, the two companies reached a broad patent cross-license accord in which they can use each other’s existing semiconductor patents as well as those that will be filed over the next 10 years.

As others have previously discovered, eliminating an adversarial relationship and partnering in the patent space can lead to all sorts of breakthroughs. Odds are, a company will make more money through innovation than it would in the court room trying to argue a patent dispute.

GlobalFoundries and TSMC have been at each other’s throats as of late. In August, the former sued the later over claims that 16 of its patents were infringed upon. TSMC returned fire earlier this month, accusing GlobalFoundries of infringing on 25 of its patents related to node processes. Fortunately, we won’t have to sit through years of legal battles to sort the matters out in court.

With any luck, others will follow suit and put their squabbles behind them in the name of progress and innovation.

Masthead credit: Futuristic CPU by Yurchanka Siarhei

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/82543-globalfoundries-tsmc-settle-all-patent-disputes-reach-cross.html

 

[trparky]

Hmm... the big two semiconductor chip makers have settled. If I were Intel I'd be a little worried, this now gives both TSMC and GloFlo the potential to fly past Intel in terms of chip manufacturing prowess which will benefit AMD greatly.

 

[mosu]

It looks like they took the best decision for both (and the only logical choice to avoid blocking each other).Kudos.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Lol - Maybe Intel needs to join the party.

 

[toooooot]

Ah, good ol money argument settlement to make even more money together.
Greed will save the world that will become even more greedy.
Fulls should all unite and fight China sponsoring her own
companies that shamelessly steal the work
of thousands of bright minds rubbing
them of years of work and
excausting testing
and modifications.

 

[NightAntilli]

Does that mean GF will start producing 7nm Ryzen chips?

 

[Danny101]

Does that mean GF will start producing 7nm Ryzen chips?

That would be the best development out of this fracas.

 

[gamerk2]

Hmm... the big two semiconductor chip makers have settled. If I were Intel I'd be a little worried, this now gives both TSMC and GloFlo the potential to fly past Intel in terms of chip manufacturing prowess which will benefit AMD greatly.

Meh, I view this as GF getting smacked down for attempting to sue TSMC (remember, GF started this), and eventually settling in exchange for a license to use TSMCs 7nm process (given how bad GF's failed).

Nothing to see here.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Meh, I view this as GF getting smacked down

Do smack downs usually end with eating lunch together and sharing secretes?

 

[gamerk2]

Do smack downs usually end with eating lunch together and sharing secretes?

Sometimes, yes. I'm sure some "financial incentives" went TSMCs way here, given there's no way GF could seriously think they could win in court.

 

[quadibloc]

This is, of course, very good news! A lawsuit like this had the potential to strangle the supply of many processors and GPUs, leaving only a few companies standing.

 

[Markoni35]

Hopefully this is good news. Although it could be bad. Depending if their new partnership also means cartel-splitting the market and keeping the prices high.