Intel Customers Deluged with Patent Notices
In a continuation of its intellectual-property compliance program begun last May, chip designer Patriot Scientific Corporation sent notifications to about 150 of the world's largest electronics firms of possible patent infringement .
In December, Patriot began a series of lawsuits, eventually dragging Intel into the dispute earlier this year.
Specifically, Patriot claims that several consumer-electronics companies -- including Sony , Fujitsu, Toshiba, NEC and Matsushita -- sold products containing chips with Patriot's patented microprocessor clocking mechanisms. At the time, the firm's CEO said, "This is the first of many anticipated actions in the interest of protecting the company's patent portfolio."
