Separately, AmberWave also filed a counterclaim against Intel that alleges infringement on an additional strained silicon-related patent. AmberWave’s counterclaim follows Intel’s own suit filed May 25 that seeks determination that Intel does not infringe on AmberWave’s patent.
At the heart of AmberWave’s suits are two techniques the company claims to have developed to boost a chip’s performance.
AmberWave alleges that Intel uses its techniques as part of the strained silicon technology Intel uses for its high-end 90-nanometer Pentium processors.
AmberWave said Intel previously had refused to negotiate a commercially reasonable license agreement.
Because Intel has been using these proprietary technologies without a license from AmberWave, we have no choice but to defend our intellectual property rights, said AmberWave CEO Richard Faubert, in a statement.
Privately held Salem, New Hampshire-based AmberWave licenses intellectual property specifically related to strained silicon. The company, which has 20 employees, has raised more than $66m in venture capital financing since it founded in 1998.
