+44 (0)24 7671 8970
More publications     •     Advertise with us     •     Contact us
*/
News Article

Major step toward dismissal of Synopsys-Magma infringement claims

News
Magma Design Automation Inc. announced that a U.S. District Court ruled Synopsys Inc. and IBM jointly own two of the three patents at issue in the California patent litigation between Magma and Synopsys, a decision consistent with the position Magma argued regarding the two patents. The court ruled that the third patent is owned solely by Synopsys.
Magma Design Automation Inc. announced that a U.S. District Court ruled Synopsys Inc. and IBM jointly own two of the three patents at issue in the California patent litigation between Magma and Synopsys, a decision consistent with the position Magma argued regarding the two patents. The court ruled that the third patent is owned solely by Synopsys."We are extremely pleased with this ruling," said David Stanley, Magma corporate vice president, Corporate Affairs. "It is a major step toward dismissal of infringement claims with regard to these two patents."The ruling, issued in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, holds that ownership in U.S. Patents 6,453,446 and 6,725,438 (the '446 and '438 patents), is shared by Synopsys and IBM. The court ruled ownership of U.S. Patent 6,378,114 (the '114 patent) belongs solely to Synopsys."As the facts came to light in this case it became clear that IBM, one of Magma's technology partners, contributed to the technology in these two patents and is therefore a rightful owner," Stanley said. He added that because Magma and IBM granted each other rights to their respective EDA patents in a 2004 licensing agreement, Magma therefore has rights to use the '446 and '438 patents.With regard to the final patent at issue in the case, the '114 patent, Stanley said Magma is confident its products do not practice any of the technology it covers and therefore do not infringe the patent, but that in any case its validity is highly questionable because it is already under re-examination by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). "In its initial decision the PTO rejected all 15 claims in the '114 patent, and since then we filed another request citing additional prior art," Stanley said. "It's quite possible the '114 patent could be invalidated entirely, resulting in the dismissal of the claims of infringement."This case, which Synopsys filed in 2004, is one of two patent lawsuits between the companies. In the second case, filed by Synopsys in U.S. District Court for Delaware in 2005, Synopsys asserts Magma infringes a Synopsys patent and Magma claims Synopsys infringes four Magma patents. The trial in the Delaware case is scheduled to begin in June 2007."I think it is by now clear to our industry that litigation such as this consumes far too much time and money, resources that are not helping us help our customers," Stanley said. "We are hopeful we can all adopt a less-litigious posture and focus on developing technology that helps our customers create better chips."
×
Search the news archive

To close this popup you can press escape or click the close icon.
Logo
×
Logo
×
Register - Step 1

You may choose to subscribe to the Silicon Semiconductor Magazine, the Silicon Semiconductor Newsletter, or both. You may also request additional information if required, before submitting your application.


Please subscribe me to:

 

You chose the industry type of "Other"

Please enter the industry that you work in:
Please enter the industry that you work in: