Patent infringement in processor tech for Intel Corp.

8 Feb 2008

Intel Corp. was hit with a lawsuit by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation alleging that the chip maker used a WARF invention in its processor architectures, including the popular Core 2 Duo.

The patent-infringement lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, alleges that Intel implemented in many of its chips a University of Wisconsin, Madison, invention of a circuit that executes instructions to speed up processor performance.

The patent, titled "Table based data speculation circuit for parallel processing computer," was awarded to four university researchers in 1998.

Intel did not respond to requests for comment.

WARF is looking for an undisclosed amount of compensation from Intel and an order for the company to stop selling certain processors, including the Core 2 Duo chip. A court date for legal proceedings has not been set, said Janet Kelly, communications director at WARF.

WARF is not a part of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, but a private organization that patents and licenses inventions of the university, Kelly said.

Intel has refused to enter into a license agreement with WARF related to the patent, a court document said. The organization has made repeated attempts to offer Intel legal licensing opportunities for the technology, WARF said in a statement.

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