Intel Fined $2.2 Billion for Patent Breaches

Intel Fined $2.2 Billion for Patent Breaches
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Intel announced it will fight a US court verdict ordering it to pay nearly $2.2 billion to patent holding company VLSI Technology for alleged infringement of certain chip technology. An Intel representative said that the company strongly disagrees with verdict and is confident that they will prevail in an appeal.

The jury determined Intel infringed two patents owned by VLSI Technology covering methods to increase the power and speed of computing chips. Stanford Law School professor Mark Lemley noted in a tweet the award was the second largest patent verdict ever, but added that every patent verdict over $1 billion has been overturned or reduced on appeal.

The ruling is connected to a wider patent battle between Intel and Fortress Investment Group. Courts have twice dismissed a joint effort by Intel and Apple to prove patent claims made by Fortress Investment Group and affiliates including VLSI Technology amounted to anti-competitive behaviour by effectively taxing the electronics industry.